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

Wuzhen, 20 -22 October 2019

The 6th World Internet Conference took place in Wuzhen from 20 to 22 October 2019 under the theme "Intelligent Interconnection for Openness and Cooperation: Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace". It was attended by 1,500 representatives from 83 countries. The theme of the conference was "Intelligent Interconnection for Openness and Cooperation: Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace". It was organised by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), an authority that reports directly to the Chinese President Xi Jinping. The opening speech was delivered by Huang Kunming, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China. President Xi Jinping sent a welcome message[1].

The conference, which was held for the sixth time, is increasingly developing into a presentation fair of the Chinese Internet industry with selected international participation. In contrast to previous years, the 2019 event lacked "big names" such as the CEOs of Google and Apple, who had still attended the conference last year. High-ranking politicians from Western countries were also not present. Participation in the conference is by invitation only. The conference part is designed less for discussion than for presentation.

The outcome of the conference, which is summarised in the “Wuzhen Outlook”, is negotiated prior to the conference by the so-called “High-Level Advisory Council” (HAC). The HAC, a group of 30 international experts, half of them from China, has been chaired by Professor emeritus Werner Zorn since 2018. In the late 1980ies, Zorn held a vital role in the establishment procedure of the Chinese ccTLD .cn[2]. Zorn is the successor of the co-chairs Jack Ma (Alibaba) and Fadi Chehadé (then still ICANN), who resigned from office in 2017.

The “Wuzhen Outlook 2019” comprises five chapters.[3]. Overcoming the digital divide, (2) Promoting the digital economy, (3) Internet culture and information content, (4) Cyber security, (5) International cooperation. The third chapter condemns the abuse of the Internet for spreading illegal and dangerous content on the Internet. The fourth chapter refers to the danger of cyber war and calls for the de-militarisation of cyber space[4]. 

Most important to the international discussion is the 5th chapter. The text mainly reflects the position of the Chinese government as it is represented in the BRICS negotiations and within the framework of the UN. The central element is the attitude towards the concept of cyber sovereignty, which is stated to be acknowledged by “more and more countries”. The report refers to the ongoing negotiations in the UN system (OEWG & UNGEE6) and to the report by the UN High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation. All these proved that the concept of multilateralism opposed to unilateralism provided the best basis for solving problems related to Internet governance. An important component in this context was a multistakeholder cooperation “under the framework of the United Nations”[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