Author Angela Zhang discusses China's tech regulation landscape, covering government crackdowns on tech giants and the interplay of business, regulation, and politics. The podcast explores China's control of online speech, geopolitical impacts on US-China tech rivalry, and parallels in US tech policy. Zhang shares her future research plans on global tech regulation, focusing on AI dynamics between China, the US, and Europe.
China's tech governance involves a mix of regulation and state intervention, shaping industry direction.
The dynamic pyramid model decodes China's intricate regulatory system, highlighting hierarchy, volatility, and fragility.
Deep dives
Understanding China's Tech Policy through a Comprehensive Analysis
China's tech sector governance involves a complex mix of regulation, self-regulation, and state intervention, influencing the industry's direction. The guest introduces a dynamic pyramid model to decode China's intricate regulatory system, analyzing key players and their motivations. The Chinese government's tech crackdown from 2020 to 2022 illustrates a shift towards increased state control, pivoting investments from consumer tech to critical technologies. The global impact of China's tech policy is highlighted by comparing it with the U.S. and the European Union.
Author's Background and Research Influences on Tech Regulation Focus
The author's background roots in Chinese antitrust policy, paving the way to broader interest in tech regulations encompassing areas like data, labor, and content. The discussion extends to U.S. policies against China, notably exemplified by recent actions, showcasing a narrative of competition around tech giants. The author's legal and academic journey shapes an in-depth look at the regulatory landscapes of tech firms across different regions.
The Dynamic Pyramid Model: A Framework to Understand Chinese Tech Regulation
The dynamic pyramid model conceptualizes China's tech regulations, emphasizing hierarchy, volatility, and fragility within the regulatory system. The hierarchical structure involves intertwined players adhering to centralized control leading to periods of minimal intervention to abrupt regulatory actions. The model explores the erratic nature of Chinese tech regulation, marked by cycles of tightening and easing, resulting in a fragile regulatory environment with unintended consequences.
Impact of Chinese Regulation on Tech Giants: Case of Alibaba and Regulatory Challenges
China's regulatory actions significantly influenced tech giants like Alibaba, exemplified by an antitrust investigation causing a severe market cap drop and subsequent penalties. Chinese agencies exercise various methods beyond formal sanctions to discipline firms, impacting reputation and market performance. The case of Alibaba underscores the leverage and impact regulatory measures can have on tech companies amid a complex regulatory landscape.
Angela Zhang is the author of High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy, published this year by Oxford University Press. With a career in the practice of law and in teaching it, Zhang has held roles King’s College London and at New York University School of Law, and most recently served as Director of Philip K. H. Wong Center for Chinese Law at the University of Hong Kong. She will join the University of Southern California as a Professor of Law in fall 2024.
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