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Read in Chinese
Speakers:
Ms. Cao Shumin, vice minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC)
Mr. Yue Zhongming, director of the Economic Law Department of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
Mr. Wang Xiaoguang, director general of the Bureau of Law Popularization and Rule of Law of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
Mr. Li Changxi, director general of the Bureau of Law-Based Cyberspace Governance of the CAC
Chairperson:
Ms. Xing Huina, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO
Date:
March 16, 2023
Xing Huina:
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today, the SCIO released a white paper titled "China's Law-Based Cyberspace Governance in the New Era," and organized this press conference to walk you through its main content. The white paper delves into Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and thoroughly puts into practice the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Centering closely on Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and a series of important remarks on building China's strength in cyberspace made by General Secretary Xi Jinping, the document outlines the nation's integrated efforts to advance cyber legislation, law enforcement, judiciary work, as well as programs to spread legal knowledge via the internet, publicize cyber laws, and cultivate the public's awareness in laws. It introduces China's positive progress in ensuring law-based cyberspace governance and the country's markedly enhanced capacity in developing rule of law in cyberspace. It also notes that China proactively carries out international exchanges and cooperation on law-based cyberspace governance, contributing ideas and solutions to global internet governance.
At around 18,000 Chinese characters, the white paper consists of a preface, main body and conclusion. Specifically, the main body is divided into six parts: "Upholding the Rule of Law in Cyberspace," "Consolidating the Legal System for Cyberspace Governance," "Keeping Order in a Rule-Based Cyberspace," "Defending Fairness and Justice in Cyberspace," "Promoting Public Awareness and Competence in Law-Based Cyberspace Governance" and "Increasing International Exchanges and Cooperation in Law-Based Cyberspace Governance."
The white paper is published in eight languages — Chinese, English, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese — by the People's Publishing House and Foreign Languages Press. It is available at Xinhua Bookstores across the country.
To help you better understand the document, we have invited Ms. Cao Shumin, vice minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), to walk you through the relevant information and take your questions. Also joining us today are Mr. Yue Zhongming, director of the Economic Law Department of the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC); Mr. Wang Xiaoguang, director general of the Bureau of Law Popularization and Rule of Law of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ); and Mr. Li Changxi, director general of the Bureau of Law-Based Cyberspace Governance of the CAC.
Now, I'll give the floor to Ms. Cao Shumin for a brief introduction.
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Cao Shumin:
Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. It is my pleasure to attend this press conference today. The white paper "China's Law-Based Cyberspace Governance in the New Era," released today, is the country's first of its kind regarding law-based cyberspace governance.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to law-based cyberspace governance and made a series of major arrangements. Committed to upholding the rule of law in cyberspace, China has seen historic achievements in law-based cyberspace governance. The white paper systematically summarizes the concept and practices of China's law-based cyberspace governance since the country was fully connected to the internet in 1994 and especially in the new era, which has offered Chinese ideas and solutions to global internet governance. Next, I will brief you on the document's main content from three aspects.
People-centered development. In China, we must ensure that people's interests and wishes are reflected, their rights are protected, and their wellbeing is enhanced in every aspect throughout the entire process of law-based cyberspace governance, so that the people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security can be strengthened.
Further development of the internet. The essence of law-based cyberspace governance is to guarantee the healthy and orderly development of the internet. Under law-based cyberspace governance, we will ensure the innovation-driven growth of cyberspace under the rule of law.
Proceeding from realities. Based on the realities of our cyberspace development practices, China handles the relationships between development and security, freedom and order, openness and autonomy, and administration and service in an appropriate manner. We have employed law-based thinking and approaches to deal with the problems in internet development.
Innovation-driven cyberspace governance. By focusing on new situations and problems of law-based cyberspace governance in the new era, we have made accelerated efforts to promote innovation in the concept, content, approach, and methods of law-based cyberspace governance so as to raise its capacity for internet governance in all areas.
Openness and cooperation. China has played an active part in working with other countries to formulate rules for cyberspace governance and engaged in international exchanges and cooperation in law-based cyberspace governance, drawing from the experience of other countries and pioneering a distinctively Chinese model of internet governance in line with international best practice.
Second, China's achievements in law-based cyberspace governance in the new era.
China has taken accelerated efforts to promote cyber legislation. We have promulgated more than 140 laws on cyberspace since 1994, forming a cyber legislation framework with the Constitution as the foundation, supported by laws, regulations, and rules, endorsed by traditional legislation, and underpinned by specialized cyber laws. The groundwork for cyber legislation has been laid.
China has been strengthening law enforcement in cyberspace. We have carried out actions against practices that illegally collect and use personal data, punishing online copyright infringement and piracy. Actions have been taken against the monopoly and unfair competition in the field of the platform economy. We have also launched Operation Qinglang special campaigns. Accelerated efforts have been taken to establish and improve a system for comprehensive cyberspace governance, and a sound cyber environment has been maintained.
China has fully implemented cyber justice. We have improved the rules of cyber justice, established internet courts, and promoted digitalizing procuratorial work. We have carried out activities to combat cybercrime in accordance with laws, strengthened judicial protection of minors' rights and interests in cyberspace, and safeguarded the people's rights and interests in cyberspace.
China has promoted legal education in cyberspace in an innovative manner. We have carried out internet plus public legal education and strengthened legal literacy through online media, raising public awareness and readiness regarding the rule of law.
Third, China is fully engaged in international exchanges and cooperation in the field of law-based governance of cyberspace.
China is playing an active role in rule making. We resolutely safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and support the participation of all countries in global cyberspace governance on an equal footing. We have also taken an active part in the formulation of regional cyberspace governance rules.
China has conducted extensive exchanges and cooperation. We have increased international law enforcement and judicial cooperation on cybersecurity to crack down on cyberterrorism. We also cooperate with the United Nations Children's Fund and other organizations to jointly protect the rights and interests of minors in cyberspace.
Third, we have created platforms for dialogue. By building exchange platforms, including the World Internet Conference, China has played an active role in promoting understanding and mutual trust in the rule of law in cyberspace between different countries.
The 20th CPC National Congress made new plans for promoting China's strength in cyberspace and the rule of law. China stands ready to work with the international community in following the global governance philosophy featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and jointly promote law-based governance of the global internet so that digital development can deliver greater benefits to people in all countries.
Next, my colleagues and I will take your questions. Thank you.
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Xing Huina:
Thank you. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before asking your questions.
Legal Daily:
The white paper summarizes the philosophy and practice of law-based cyberspace governance since China became fully connected to the internet, particularly since China has entered a new era, contributing Chinese solutions and wisdom to global internet governance. As such, what were the major considerations for releasing the white paper "China's Law-Based Cyberspace Governance in the New Era"? Thank you.
Cao Shumin:
Thank you. I will answer the question. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has put forward a range of new philosophies, thoughts, and strategies in the great practice of law-based governance on all fronts and building cyberspace strength, and formed Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and the important ideas of General Secretary Xi Jinping on building China's strength in cyberspace. These thoughts have guided China to further enhance law-based cyberspace governance. The law-based cyberspace governance system with Chinese characteristics has continued to improve. Cyber legislation, law enforcement, and judiciary work have advanced alongside programs to spread legal knowledge via the internet. We have deepened international exchange and cooperation on this front. Historic achievements in law-based cyberspace governance have been made in the new era. A trail has been blazed in law-based cyberspace governance with Chinese characteristics in line with international best practices.
Releasing the white paper "China's Law-Based Cyberspace Governance in the New Era" is conducive to domestic and international understanding of China's law-based cyberspace governance. Thank you.
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Thecover.cn:
Over the past decade in the new era, China has advanced the rule of law and improved legislation related to emerging sectors such as the internet. What progress has been made in law formulation, and what role has it played? Thank you.
Yue Zhongming:
Thank you for your question about the legislation of cyber laws. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee have implemented decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee on building China's cyberspace strength and making China a digital country. We have advanced legislation of cyber laws, continued to optimize relevant laws, systems, and regulations, and formed a complete system of cyber laws. Remarkable achievements have been attained in cyber legislation providing legal guarantees for sustainable and healthy internet development. In the past decade, we have promulgated five laws in this field.
First, the Cybersecurity Law was enacted in 2016. It has implemented the real-name system for internet users, established systems and measures for ensuring the security of online products and services, network operation and key information infrastructure, and safeguarded online information security.
Second, the Electronic Commerce Law was promulgated in 2018. It has provided a full set of regulations on e-commerce operation, with clear provisions on the responsibilities of e-commerce platform operators and business owners on these platforms. It has maintained fair market competition and strengthened the protection of consumer rights and interests, as well as intellectual property rights.
Third, the Data Security Law was formulated in 2021. In response to the risks and hidden dangers in data security, it has established mechanisms for categorized and classified data protection, risk monitoring and early warning, emergency response, and data security review. At the same time, it has facilitated data security and development, promoted the security and openness of government data, strengthened China's capacity for ensuring data security, and advanced the rational and effective use of data in accordance with the law.
Fourth, the Personal Information Protection Law was enacted in 2021. Focusing on the concerns of the people, it has further defined and refined principles on protecting personal information and rules on the processing of personal information, and specified the rights and obligations for processing personal information. It has improved the mechanism for protecting personal information and safeguarded citizens' rights and interests in personal information.
Fifth, the Law on Combating Telecom and Online Fraud was promulgated in 2022. It has built a comprehensive governance system for the telecommunications, finance and internet sectors and was specifically created to fight telecom and online fraud. Focusing on this specific area, the law has provided strong legal support for preventing, curbing and punishing telecom and online fraud.
Apart from these five specific laws, the NPC Standing Committee has continued to amend traditional laws and regulations to cover the internet area. Over the years, a series of laws has been revised, including the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, the Law on Food Safety, the Law on Advertisement, the Law on the Protection of Minors, the Law Against Unfair Competition, the Anti-Monopoly Law and others. Through the revisions, relevant institutions and regulations have been improved with regards to the protection of consumer rights and interests in online transactions, food safety responsibilities of internet platforms, internet advertisements, the protection of minors in cyberspace, and unfair competition and monopoly on the internet. Meanwhile, the Civil Code and the Amendment to the Criminal Law have been formulated, outlining specific stipulations concerning the protection of civil rights and combating online criminal activities in new internet business forms. Thank you.
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Red Star News:
Many NPC deputies and CPPCC members proposed enacting a special law against cyberbullying during this year's two sessions. At the end of last year, the CAC issued a notice on taking stronger steps to deal with cyberbullying. What measures will be taken by relevant departments to curb cyberbullying? Thank you.
Li Changxi:
That is a good question. Recently, cases of cyberbullying have attracted widespread attention from the public. Relevant authorities have attached great importance to that and taken proactive steps to fight cyberbullying. In November, the CAC issued a notice on taking stronger steps to control cyberbullying. Major websites and platforms have fully implemented the requirements and built and improved relevant prevention and control mechanisms. 28.75 million pieces of information related to cyberbullying have been intercepted and removed. 1.65 million notices have been issued to netizens reminding them to post appropriately. One-click prevention notices have been sent to 28,000 users. 22,000 accounts have been issued with severe punishments for cyberbullying. And the risk of cyberbullying over hot issues has been effectively prevented. Recently, departments of cyberspace affairs have guided major platforms to issue guides on preventing cyberbullying and to help netizens effectively protect themselves from cyberbullying in multiple aspects, including risk notifications, one-click prevention, private message protection, reporting and filing complaints. Going forward, the departments of cyberspace affairs will continue to urge websites and platforms to fulfill their primary responsibilities for fighting cyberbullying, regularly publish information on the prevention and control of cyberbullying, and expose typical cases in a timely manner to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of netizens.
During the recently concluded "two sessions," we observed that the NPC deputies and CPPCC members put forward proposals to crack down on online violence and create a healthy online environment. Many of them emphasized the urgent need to accelerate targeted legislation on online violence. These proposals are truly meaningful. Our research has shown that, current comprehensive laws, such as the Civil Code, the Criminal Law, and the Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security, as well as specialized laws, like the Law on the Protection of Minors, the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests, and the Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs, along with relevant judicial interpretations issued by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate on defamation, infringement of personal information, and violation of personal rights, have all made provisions on online violence. However, the existing laws and regulations still need to be more targeted, better coordinated, and more effective, in order to bring more satisfactory results to the public.
Moving forward, we will further intensify our efforts to establish regulations and systems from the perspective of combatting online violence. We will promptly introduce relevant departmental regulations and collaborate with relevant departments to conduct research and strive to improve the legal system. We will also strengthen protection and relief for affected parties and respond in a timely manner to the feedback and demands of the people. Thank you.
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CCTV:
My questions are, how has China achieved quite a few results in law-based cyberspace governance in less than 30 years after being connected to the internet, and can you share your experiences in this area? Thank you.
Cao Shumin:
Thank you for your questions. In China, we refine the law-based cyberspace governance as we proceed with our work. We innovate while carrying forward previous practical approaches, and have gained valuable experiences in the process. And these can be summarized as follows.
First, we have adhered to the overall leadership of the Party in this area. We have implemented the Party's requirements for governing the cyberspace and ensured that the Party's leadership is present throughout all links and all aspects of law-based cyberspace governance, ensuring that related work always advances in the correct political direction.
Second, our approach in this area has always been people-centered. The law-based cyberspace governance directly influences more than one billion internet users and concerns the total population of more than 1.4 billion. We have continued to carry out a series of special operations such as "Jingwang" (purifying the cyberspace), "Qinglang" (promoting internet civilization and pooling positive energy), and "Humiao" (protecting minors). We have increased efforts to address prominent issues that are complained about strongly by people, such as online pornography, rumors, and violence, telecom and internet fraud, algorithm abuse, and minors addicted to online games. Our goal is to create a safe, fair, healthy, civilized, and clean cyberspace for the people.
Third, we have adhered to the path of law-based internet governance with Chinese characteristics. Based on our experience regarding the development of the internet, we have promulgated basic, comprehensive, and overarching laws such as the Cybersecurity Law, the Data Security Law, the Personal Information Protection Law, the E-commerce Law, and the Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law. Our focus has been on improving the legal rules for the digital economy, establishing a legal system for protecting internet-based rights and interests, drawing the legal red line for cybersecurity, improving the norms for cyberspace governance, and promoting various systems to become more systematic, mature, and fully formed.
Fourth, we have adhered to a sound work pattern in advancing law-based cyberspace governance. We have coordinated the relationships between development and security, freedom and order, openness and autonomy, and administration and service in an appropriate manner. We have also adhered to governing the internet according to the law while improving the online environment by promoting civic morality. We have also encouraged the development of the internet with support and better regulation, and taken a coordinated approach to the rule of law at home and in matters involving foreign parties, so as to boost the innovative development of the internet through high-quality rule of law. So far, China's internet users have reached 1.067 billion. From 2012 to 2021, the compound annual growth rate of China's digital economy reached 15.9%. It has become a main driver of our economic growth. China's Internet of Things (IoT) now connects more cellular terminals than mobile phone users. The world's largest and most advanced fiber-optic broadband and 5G networks have been built in China, forming the world's largest, most widely applied, most innovative, and most vibrant network society.
Fifth, we have continued to promote innovation in the work of law-based cyberspace governance. We have accelerated all-around innovation in the concept, content, and measures of the rule of law in cyberspace. We have created and improved the rules on new technologies and new fields, established legal rules for deep synthesis and algorithm-based recommendation, and used network information technology to empower the traditional judiciary, so as to expand the new model of 'internet plus public legal education' and give the people direct access to the government's public legal education information .
Sixth, we have made cohesive efforts in law-based cyberspace governance. We have ensured that the whole country has been involved. We have also given full play to the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of various departments, local governments, enterprises, and internet users, and we have also coordinated and promoted the rule of law in various fields, such as online content and management, cybersecurity, and information technology , so as to keep the internet develop within the confines of the law.
The valuable experience has been an important guarantee for advancing law-based governance in all respects and building up our strength in cyberspace in the new era. Such experience must persist over a long time and be continuously enriched, improved, and developed. Thank you.
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Southern Metropolis Daily:
The internet has become a new space where people study, work, and live, and it has also become a new channel and new method for popularizing the law. Publicity and education on the rule of law via the internet have been long-term basic work for the law-based governance of cyberspace. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, what has been done to publicize the law via the internet?
Wang Xiaoguang:
Thank you for your care about our work on popularizing cyber laws. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Ministry of Justice and the National Office of Law Popularization have earnestly implemented Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and the important ideas of General Secretary Xi Jinping on building China's strength in cyberspace. They have taken the popularization and education on the rule of law on the internet as long-term basic work for the law-based governance of cyberspace, organized localities and departments to employ the internet to spread knowledge of the law, and enhanced people's awareness of and literacy in cyber laws and regulations. I will use four keywords, "system, platform, product, and activity," to brief you on our work in this regard.
First, in terms of institutional improvements, the system of online law popularization continues to improve. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee made a clear requirement to expand the applications of new media and new technologies for law popularization. The seventh five-year plan on improving legal awareness (2016-2020) emphasized promoting the campaign of spreading the knowledge of the rule of law via the internet. The eighth five-year plan (2021-2025) proposed to carry out smart legal publicity from an internet thinking and all-media perspective.
Second, in terms of platforms, we have given full play to various online platforms and media in law popularization. For example, many platforms such as the Xuexi Qiangguo app, people.cn, xinhuanet.com, and legaldaily.com.cn, have launched special columns focusing on the rule of law. The Ministry of Justice has strengthened the functions of its smart legal publicity platform, and facilitated information sharing with online platforms, such as China Court Trial Online and China Judgements Online . As of now, over 30,000 accounts for law popularization have been set up on online platforms, including Weibo accounts, WeChat official accounts, mobile applications and WeChat video channels. The total views of the WeChat official account "China legalinfo" reached 667 million in 2022, with its followers exceeding 30 million.
Third, in terms of products, we have provided a diverse range of online law popularization products. Combining the needs of different groups for law popularization, we have adopted various forms such as graphics, cartoons, comics, short videos, livestream, and online music to provide knowledge of the law, interpret relevant laws and regulations, and promote the socialist spirit of the rule of law through multiple channels such as microblogs, WeChat official accounts, and so on.
Fourth, in terms of activities, we have further integrated online and in-person law popularization activities. All localities and departments have conducted a variety of law popularization activities both online and in-person during important dates such as the National Constitution Publicity Week, the National Security Education Day, and the Civil Code Publicity Month. The CAC has actively implemented the responsibility system of "whoever enforces the law shall popularize the law," conducted a series of relevant activities, and adopted a case-based method to address the issues of public concern such as the use of the internet to spread illegal information, infringement of personal information rights, telecommunications network fraud, and internet protection of minors. All this work has greatly promoted law-based cyberspace governance.
Using the internet to popularize the law has increased the arrival rate, popularization rate and awareness rate of the knowledge of the law. The concept of the rule of law combining rights and obligations, individual freedom and social responsibilities has been well-received by the public. Respecting the law, abiding by the law, and learning and using the law have increasingly become the prevailing consensus and basic principle in cyberspace. Thank you.
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People.cn:
According to the white paper, the groundwork for cyber legislation has been laid, contributing to and improving the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics. I would like to ask, what are the characteristics of cyber legislation in the new era? What else needs to be done to advance the work and improve cyber legislation in the future? Thank you.
Li Changxi:
This is a very good question. A critical aspect of law-based cyberspace governance is legislation. The groundwork for cyber legislation has been laid. China has formulated a system of laws on cyberspace governance with distinct Chinese characteristics through the creation of basic, comprehensive, and overarching laws such as the Electronic Commerce Law, Electronic Signature Law, Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, and Personal Information Protection Law. It presents the following three characteristics.
The rank of cyber legislation has gradually moved up over time. Early-stage cyber legislation primarily consisted of administrative regulations and departmental rules, such as the Regulations on the Security and Protection of Computer Information Systems and the Provisions on Protecting the Personal Information of Telecommunications and Internet Users. Now, with the promulgation of laws such as the Cybersecurity Law and the Personal Information Protection Law, cyber legislation has played an increasingly overarching role built on a more solid foundation.
Secondly, cyber legislation values a scientific and democratic legislative process. The multiple challenges brought by the technological nature, rapid development, broad scope, complex regulatory objects, and the internet's constantly evolving issues require a scientific and democratic legislative approach to accurately address these issues. In the process of drafting cyber legislation, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, and relevant departments have made the draft available to the public and solicited opinions from various parties through seminars and symposiums. This approach truly promotes development and ensures good governance through effective laws.
Thirdly, cyber legislation is innovative and forward-thinking. China places great importance on future needs and continuously explores and researches relevant legislation to address new problems and challenges. Cyber legislation keeps up with technological developments and practical needs, exemplified by the Data Security Law, which achieved a breakthrough in China's legal governance of data security from scratch. It made top-level institutional designs in important areas such as data classification and grading, important data protection, and data security review. As the world's first specialized legislation on data security, it also provides valuable insights and solutions for other countries and regions to consider.
In the future, we will continue to consider cyber legislation as an important part of China's socialist legal system. We will implement the strategic deployment of "exercising law-based governance on all fronts" and "stepping up legislation in key, emerging, and foreign-related fields" proposed in the report to the 20th CPC National Congress. We will attain the objectives of promoting development and regulating supervision simultaneously and continue to make progress in institutionalizing cyber legislation while further refining legislation in areas such as data, platforms, and technology. Thank you.
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CRI:
Mr. Yue just mentioned the Law on Combating Telecom and Online Fraud formulated last year. I want to inquire further about the reasons behind its formulation and the specific measures it provides for combating telecom and online fraud. Thank you.
Yue Zhongming:
Thanks for your question. Telecom and online fraud has been rampant, and the general public hates it. The Law on Combating Telecom and Online Fraud, which was enacted last year, adheres to a problem-oriented, result-oriented and precise prevention approach. The law strengthens the systematic concept, pays attention to the source of treatment and comprehensive treatment, and carries out the comprehensive management of the whole chain of personnel, information, technology and funding chains related to telecom and online fraud. The main systems and measures include the following five aspects.
First, we have strengthened the responsibilities of all sectors. The responsibilities of each department, each unit, and each link have been clearly defined, and strict legal action will be taken against those who fail to fulfill their duties.
Second, we have intensified punishment. We have built comprehensive measures to punish and prevent criminals involved in telecom and online fraud and crack down on all kinds of illegal and semi-legal industries engaged in fraud.
Third, we have strengthened industrial governance. We have made institutional provisions for the outstanding problems reflected in each chain and each link. We have closed loopholes, established rules and regulations, and also stipulated corresponding responsibilities and penalties for non-performance of industry governance obligations.
Fourth, we have strengthened countermeasure technology. We have promoted sharing risk information and providing technical support for combating and curbing illegal and criminal activities.
Fifth, we have adhered to joint management and coordination. We have mobilized the forces and resources of all sectors of society, clarified responsibilities, and created a strong anti-fraud atmosphere in the whole society. Thank you.
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Science and Technology Daily:
New technologies and applications, which have driven the internet's vigorous development, have also challenged internet governance. What experiences can China share in this regard? Thank you.
Li Changxi:
Thanks for your attention to new technologies and applications. To regulate new technologies and applications in accordance with the law, we should proceed from the overall situation of national and social development. We believe that we should not only strengthen the research and judgment of the situation, grasp and adapt to the trend of the development of new technologies and new applications, but also improve laws, regulations, policies and systems. We should improve the system and mechanism while promoting new technologies and new applications to better serve the high-quality development of the economy and society.
First, we need to strengthen overall planning. We should adhere to the rule of law to promote the development and governance of new technologies and applications. With a focus on promoting development, we need to improve the regulatory system, thinking and methods and explore a regulatory model that adapts to the characteristics of new technologies and applications and is conducive to innovative development and fair competition. We will promote the formation of a collaborative governance situation where government management, corporate responsibilities, social supervision, and netizens' self-discipline work together. At the same time, we must practice the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance and actively participate in the global governance of new technologies and applications.
Second, we need to improve the regulatory basis. According to the development needs, we should formulate and revise relevant legislation on a timely basis, refine relevant policies, explore and study specialized legislation on the application of new technologies, strengthen risk analysis and forward-looking research, and establish effective regulatory systems and rules in various fields of technology application.
Third, we need to improve the oversight mechanism. The oversight of new technologies and applications involves many subjects, making the situation complex and fast-changing. We should promote establishing a comprehensive, multi-tiered, and multifaceted system to regulate all stages, from start to finish, in all sectors. We need to put in place a multifaceted and comprehensive oversight system featuring coordination across different levels while actively exploring new types of supervision mechanisms.
Fourth, we need to innovate the means of oversight and supervision. Differential and tiered supervision shall be carried out according to the characteristics of new technologies and applications featuring dynamic changes, cross-sectoral integration, etc. We need to improve tiered regulatory tools and comprehensively use regulatory measures such as access permits, technology registration, and dynamic assessments to limit the risks brought about by technological development to an appropriate range. We need to leverage technology to control technology, use the new generation of information technology to improve and innovate existing regulatory tools, and make our regulation more digital and smarter. Thank you.
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Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:
The public is both an audience and a participant in enhancing public awareness of laws on the internet. How can we fully mobilize the public to participate in raising public awareness of the law? Thank you.
Wang Xiaoguang:
Thank you for your question. This is a very good question. We know that China has the largest number of internet users in the world. Raising public awareness of the law requires a people-centered approach. Wherever the people are, promoting public awareness of the law must be followed up, and the work of increasing legal awareness must be extended. The internet has become the main battlefield for promoting legal awareness and has also become the largest growth area for raising legal awareness. Since the eighth five-year plan for increasing public knowledge of the law, we have firmly put the people at the center of our work of law popularization, paid more attention to using cases to explain the law around issues that the people are concerned about, and attached more importance to harnessing the advantages of online legal education, such as its broad-based participation, strong interaction, immediacy, and better services. The one-way publicity has been transformed into interactive, service-oriented, and scene-based communication. The public is no longer just a passive audience, but rather active participants, supporters, and advocates. We have realized that the vast potential for promoting legal awareness lies wthin the people and in cyberspace. Here, I will give two examples.
The first example is the MOJ's WeChat account called "China Law Popularization," which organizes special quizzes on China's Constitution and the Civil Code during important periods such as the Constitution Publicity Week and the Civil Code Publicity Month every year. In 2022, more than 1.7 billion entries were received. The WeChat account interacted with netizens and organized activities such as selecting selected comments from netizens, "My Offer for Law Popularization," and red envelopes for answering questions during the Spring Festival. Improving public participation and experiences increases people's satisfaction and happiness. Currently, the WeChat account is organizing a quiz about the Criminal Law, and all interested friends are welcome to participate.
The second example is that the MOJ and the National Office for Law Popularization have, in conjunction with the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the CAC have held legal-themed comic and micro-video collection and promotion activites for 18 sessions. The event has widely motivated internet users to innovate and collect their works online, of which the award-winning ones are exhibited and broadcast online. These works, created by internet users, are in turn used to educate them, which is coming from the public and going back to them. I think this vividly embodies the online mass line of public legal education for a new era. Thank you.
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China Daily:
The white paper released today mentions that China's law-based internet governance has developed into one with Chinese characteristics. We also noticed that China has introduced Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, Personal Information Protection Law, and other laws in recent years. Does this mean that China is competing with other countries and regions for discourse power in making cyberspace governance rules and promoting the Chinese internet model? Thank you.
Cao Shumin:
Thank you for your question. It is of public attention, and I will answer it.
The rule of law is one of the important achievements of human civilization. It has become a global consensus to advance cyberspace development and governance with law-based thinking, mindsets, and approaches. At the same time, given the different national realities, political systems, and cultural backgrounds countries have, each country is entitled to choose a suitable path of internet governance and development. China's law-based internet governance has always been based on our national context that China is the world's largest developing country with the largest number of internet users. China's law-based internet governance has actively adapted to the trend of the information age, widely drawn from the advanced experience and mature practices of other countries in law-based cyberspace governance, and pioneered a distinctive Chinese model in line with international best practice, embarking on a road of law-based internet governance with Chinese characteristics.
China's development of the rule of law has drastically increased its capacity in internet governance, which has ensured fast, sound, and orderly internet development in the country and contributed Chinese ideas and solutions to global internet governance. Countries around the world, boasting varied and distinctive variations on rule of law for their populations, should and can find a suitable path for the development and governance of the internet. "A single flower does not make spring, while one hundred flowers in full blossom bring spring to a garden." We will adhere to the guiding principles by General Secretary Xi Jinping on building a community with a shared future in cyberspace and take law-based cyberspace governance as a vital guarantee for advancing transformation of the global internet governance system and building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. We will respect sovereignty in cyberspace and revere other countries' rights to independently choose their own internet development path and governance model as well as the right to equally participate in global cyberspace governance. We will strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in law-based internet governance and work with the international community to relentlessly explore effective ways through which the internet can better benefit the people. We will make more influential, distinctive, and effective achievements in practicing the rule of law so as to actively contribute to build a cyberspace featuring justice and fairness, openness and inclusion, security and stability, and vigor and vitality.
Xing Huina:
Today's press conference is hereby concluded. Thanks to all the speakers and friends from the media. Goodbye.
Translated and edited by Zhu Bochen, Gong Yingchun, Liu Jianing, Xu Kailin, Yuan Fang, Zhang Rui, Yan Xiaoqing, Qin Qi, Wang Yiming, Xiang Bin, Yan Bin, Xu Xiaoxuan, Wang Wei, Ma Yujia, Wang Yanfang, Liu Sitong, Zhang Junmian, He Shan, Liu Qiang, Li Huiru, David Ball, Tom Arnsten, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
