How China Governs Big Tech and Regulates Artificial Intelligence
Date & Time: March 21, 2024 (Thursday) 13:00-14:15
Venue: Room 824, 8/F, Cheng Yu Tung Tower, HKU
(In-person only)
Description:
China has long been recognized as a powerhouse in cultivating Big Tech firms that rival those in the United States. However, the Chinese government recently embarked on a massive regulatory crackdown, targeting its largest tech corporations such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Meituan. Many Western experts have perceived China’s tech crackdown as the government’s assault on private businesses, causing growing doubts among investors whether Chinese firms are still investable.
In this book talk, Professor Zhang will take us beyond the headlines to unravel the complexity of China’s regulatory governance. Drawing insights from her newly released book, “High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy,” she will introduce the dynamic pyramid model of regulation, a new analytical framework that demystifies Chinese regulatory governance. Professor Zhang will also apply this model to analyze China’s strategic approach to regulating artificial intelligence and discuss its implications for the global tech rivalry and the prospects for international cooperation. Join Professor Zhang as she uncovers how China regulates on the high wire by navigating the intricate balance between innovation, regulation and geopolitical contest.
Speaker:
Angela Zhang is an Associate Professor of Law at The University of Hong Kong and Director of the Philip K. H. Wong Center for Chinese Law. Widely recognized as a leading authority on China’s tech regulation, Angela has written extensively on this topic. She is the author of “Chinese Antitrust Exceptionalism: How the Rise of China Challenges Global Regulation” (Oxford, 2021), which was named one of the Best Political Economy Books of 2021 by ProMarket. Angela’s second book, “High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy,” will be released by Oxford University Press in March 2024. For more information, please visit her website at AngelaZhang.net, and follow her on Twitter @AngelaZhangHK.
Discussants:
Sébastien Evrard is the partner in charge of the Hong Kong office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
Sida Liu is a Professor at Faculty of Law at The University of Law. He also holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Sociology.
Jin Li is an Area Head and Professor of Management and Strategy with a joint appointment in Economics at The University of Hong Kong.
Moderator:
Jingxian Zeng is an Assistant Research Officer of Philip K. H. Wong Centre for Chinese Law at The University of Hong Kong.