Q4/2019 - 6. World Internet Conference (WC)

Wuzhen, 20. -22. Oktober 2019

Die 6. World Internet Conference fand vom 20. – 22. Oktober 2019 in Wuzhen statt. An ihr beteiligten sich 1.500 Delegierte aus 83 Ländern. Die Konferenz stand unter dem Motto "Intelligent Interconnection for Openness and Cooperation: Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace". Organisator der Konferenz ist die Cyber-Administration of China (CAC), eine dem chinesischen Präsidenten Xi Jinping direkt unterstehenden Behörde. Die Eröffnungsrede wurde von Huang Kunming, Mitglied des Politbüros der KP Chinas, gehalten. Präsident Xi Jinping sandte eine Begrüßungsbotschaft[1]. 

Die bereits zum sechsten Mal stattfindende Konferenz entwickelt sich immer mehr zu einer Präsentationsmesse für die chinesische Internetindustrie mit ausgewählter internationaler Beteiligung. Im Unterscheid zu den vergangenen Jahren fehlten 2019 „große Namen“ wie die CEOs von Google und Apple, die noch im vergangenen Jahr an der Konferenz teilgenommen hatten. Auch hochrangige Politiker aus westlichen Ländern fehlten. Eine Teilnahme an der Konferenz ist nur auf Einladung möglich. Der Konferenzteil ist weniger auf Diskussion als auf Präsentation ausgelegt.

Das im „Wuzhen Outlook“ zusammengefasste Konferenzergebnis wird vor der Konferenz von dem sogenannten „High-Level Advisory Council“ (HAC) ausgehandelt. Das HAC, eine Gruppe von rund 30 Experten aus aller Welt, die Hälfte davon aus China, wird seit 2018 von dem emeritierten deutschen Professor Werner Zorn geleitet. Zorn spielte in den späten 1980er-Jahren eine wichtige Rolle beim Aufbau der chinesischen ccTLD .cn[2]. Zorn folgte den Co-Vorsitzenden Jack Ma (Alibaba) und Fadi Chehadé (damals noch ICANN), die ihre Ämter 2017 niedergelegt hatten.

Der „Wuzhen Outlook 2019“ enthält fünf Kapitel[3]. (1) Überwindung der digitalen Spaltung, (2) Förderung der Digitalwirtschaft, (3) Internet-Kultur und Informationsinhalte, (4) Cybersicherheit, (5) Internationale Zusammenarbeit. Im 3. Kapitel wird der Missbrauch des Internet zur Verbreitung von illegalen und gefährlichen Inhalten im Internet angeprangert. Im 4. Kapitel wird die Gefahr eines Cyberkrieges beschworen und zur De-Militarisierung des Cyberspace aufgerufen[4]. 

Für die internationale Diskussion ist insbesondere das 5. Kapitel von Interesse. Der Text spiegelt im Wesentlichen die Position der chinesischen Regierung wider, wie sie auch bei den BRICS-Verhandlungen und im Rahmen der UNO vertreten wird. Kernbestandteil ist der Bezug zum Konzept der „Cybersouveränität“, das von „mehr und mehr Ländern“ anerkannt würde. Der Bericht bezieht sich auf die laufenden Verhandlungen im UN-System (OEWG & UNGGE6) sowie den Bericht des UN High-Level Panels on Digital Cooperation. All das belege, dass das Konzept des „Multilateralismus“ – im Gegensatz zum „Unilateralismus“ – die beste Grundlage für die Lösung von Problemen im Zusammenhang mit Internet Governance ist. Dabei sei eine Multistakeholder-Zusammenarbeit „under the framework of the United Nations“ eine wichtige Komponente[5]. 

Mehr zum Thema
Q4/2019
  1. [1] Xi: Internet a joint global responsibility, China Daily, 21. Oktober 2019: „Xi said in the letter that the internet — one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century — has profoundly changed people's way of life and productivity. Because of the internet, a new scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, and new technologies, new applications and new forms of business, such as artificial intelligence, big data and the internet of things, are beginning to unfold, he said, adding that the internet has ushered in new momentum and broader space for development. "The theme of the conference — 'Intelligent Interconnection for Openness and Cooperation: Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace' — is very meaningful," Xi said in the letter. He encouraged attendees to exchange ideas, share experiences, build consensus and deepen cooperation. Countries should follow the trend of the times, shoulder responsibility for development, meet challenges and risks, jointly promote global governance in cyberspace and strive to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace, in: http://www.wuzhenwic.org/2019-10/21/c_418544.htm
  2. [2] "Wuzhen Outlook 2019" officially released, digital currency impact on the traditional financial system and financial order: „The report pointed out that with the popularization of blockchain technology, the rise of digital currency has impacted the traditional financial system and financial order. The international community should adhere to the concept of openness and tolerance, deepen cooperation, complement each other's strengths, build synergy mechanisms, enhance regulatory capabilities, create a fair and equitable market environment, and allow more groups to share Internet innovation and service outcomes. In addition, the report shows that new technologies such as 5G, big data, intelligent hardware, and blockchain bring new security threats, and security threats such as cyberattacks on key information infrastructures, production and application of smart kill weapons, touch the nerves of all countries. Faced with the increasingly severe network security situation, countries have upgraded their network security to the strategic level of national security and actively strengthened the construction of comprehensive network security protection capabilities. In: „https://blocking.net/19561/wuzhen-outlook-2019-officially-released-digital-currency-impact-on-the-traditional-financial-system-and-financial-order/
  3. [3] Wuzhen Outlook 2019: „I. Integration and innovation of information and communication technologies are accelerating, but our ambition to bridge the digital divide is facing new challenges. II. The global digital economy is booming and the improvement of development policies and regulatory rules is imperative. III. Internet culture has thrived, but cultural exchange should be deeper and broader. IV. Technological evolution is accompanied by new security risks, and non-technical factors are increasingly changing the global cybersecurity landscape. V. The cyber order is facing serious challenges, and the trust needs to be rebuilt throughout the international governance of cyberspace, in: http://www.wuzhenwic.org/2019-10/20/c_418504.htm
  4. [4] Wuzhen Outlook 2019: „The influence of non-technical factors like geopolitics on cybersecurity has increased significantly. Global powers have found their relations compromised by unilateralism. The danger of an all-out cyberwar is now evident, while the absence of security governance and restraint mechanisms in cyberspace poses a significant challenge to the international community. At this critical juncture, stakeholders should deepen pragmatic cooperation and take strong measures to address potential conflicts and avoid the militarization of cyberspace. Governments, international organizations, enterprises, technical communities, social organizations, and users should improve their capabilities to prevent cybersecurity risks, work to enhance the transparency of cybersecurity policies, promote coordination and cooperation, and speed up the process of construction of new global cybersecurity norms, in a concerted cooperative effort to build a new cybersecurity order resting upon safety, stability, and mutual trust. In: http://www.wuzhenwic.org/2019-10/20/c_418504.htm
  5. [5] Wuzhen Outlook 2019, Wuzhen, 20. Oktober 2019: „V. The cyber order is facing serious challenges, and the trust needs to be rebuilt throughout the international governance of cyberspace: The fragility and uncertainty of international cyberspace governance rules have become increasingly apparent. The peaceful order in cyberspace faces daunting challenges. Power games compromise international cooperation in the cyberspace, and anti-globalization, populist, unilateralism and protectionist sentiments tend to disrupt the security of the global supply chain. Already, individual bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms seem to have fallen prey to increasing fragmentation and disorder. These trends impede efforts to explore cyber governance processes and models and derail the efforts for cooperation between actors that share concerns about the balance of interests in cyberspace and prospects for effective cooperation. More and more countries recognize the importance of the concepts of cyber sovereignty and multilateralism in cyberspace governance, and a United Nations' prominent status and increasing role in it. In 2019, the United Nations established a dual-track mechanism, known as the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security, and the Open-Ended Working Group. Also, the United Nations High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation has issued a report under the title of The Age of Digital Interdependence to emphasize that the international community must take a holistic view on the rapid development of digital technologies and its complex consequences for sustainable development and promotion of humankind's well-being. The international community should continue to carefully consider more effective mechanisms to further promote collaboration under the framework of the United Nations. All the stakeholders- governments, international organizations, enterprises, technical communities, social organizations, and users should share a greater responsibility in, and enhance the rules of, cyber governance, revamp the system of trust through transparent and cooperative action, and work together to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.“ In: http://www.wuzhenwic.org/2019-10/20/c_418504.htm