Fang Xingdong: Adhere to the Path of Cyber Governance with Chinese Characteristics and Improve the Comprehensive Cyber Governance System
The "Decision" of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made integrated arrangements for economic system reform and reforms in other various fields, proposing the improvement of the comprehensive network governance system as part of deepening the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms. Today, the tidal wave of the information revolution surges forward. Cyberspace carries humanity's infinite aspirations for a beautiful future; it is not only a new space for people's production and daily life, but also a new space for cultural construction. Deepening the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms by improving the comprehensive network governance system is an important measure for deeply implementing the strategy of strengthening the nation through cyber-development and empowering Chinese-path modernization through informatization in the digital age. It is also a vital step for strengthening and improving ideological work and promoting the prosperity and development of socialist culture. Improving the comprehensive network governance system is a complex piece of systems engineering. We must deeply grasp the new waves of transformation in global network technology, continuously improve the network management system, and ensure holistic consideration, systematic planning, and the comprehensive implementation of all key tasks.
Proper development and proper governance have always been two sides of the same Internet coin. In the 30 years since the Internet entered China, our nation’s network governance has consistently aligned with the developmental characteristics of Internet technology, engaging in practical exploration based on a problem-oriented approach. Since the dawn of the New Era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has firmly seized the historical opportunity of the information revolution, carving out a path of network governance with Chinese characteristics. We have persisted in systematic planning, comprehensive governance, and systemic advancement; the comprehensive network governance system has been basically established, and the efficacy of comprehensive network governance clarifies and improves continuously. Facing the future, we must firmly grasp the basic requirements for deepening the reform of cultural systems and mechanisms, cultivate a new ecosystem of comprehensive governance, enhance network governance capabilities, and forge a powerful synergy for network governance. This will bolster the healthy development of the digital economy and provide the people with a greater sense of gain, happiness, and security in cyberspace.
Deepening the reform of the network management system. As an open and complex system, cyberspace contains many issues formed by diverse, comprehensive, and systemic factors. Therefore, managing and governing the network must involve holistic and integrated thinking, rather than relying on the traditional governance mindset of fragmented departments and regions [1].
The principles of "centralized leadership, unified command, and efficient coordination" point the way for the reform of the network management system. We must uphold the Party’s overall leadership over comprehensive network governance, further strengthening the political and leadership responsibilities of Party committees (and Party leadership groups) at all levels, reinforcing territorial management and the responsibilities of administrative departments and primary organizers, and fully implementing the responsibility system for network ideological work. We must accelerate the perfection of a network governance pattern characterized by the participation of multiple subjects—including leadership by Party committees, government management, corporate fulfillment of responsibilities, social supervision, and netizen self-discipline—combining various means such as law, economics, and technology. We should leverage the overall coordinating role of the Cyberspace Administration [2], strengthen close cooperation between the Cyberspace Administration and all departments involved in network management, press home the primary responsibilities of network platforms, and give full play to the roles of various network social organizations in self-education, self-regulation, and self-restraint, thereby forming a powerful synergy for network governance.
Further integrating the functions of network content construction and management. Cyberspace not only extends real-world society but also fuses deeply with it, forming a complex digital life. Given the current reality of unprecedented speeds in network content production and dissemination, it is essential to promote the effective integration of content construction and management functions and to advance the integrated management of news publicity and online public opinion. We must improve the working mechanisms for guiding online public opinion, encouraging various network accounts and media managed by Party organizations, government departments, enterprises, public institutions, and mass organizations [3] to speak out proactively, thereby shaping a new pattern of mainstream online public opinion. We must improve mechanisms for preventing online public opinion risks, issuing authoritative information in a timely manner to clarify and refute erroneous trends of thought and harmful information that appear online. We must improve the linkage mechanism between responding to online public sentiment and solving real-world problems, ensuring that measures taken online are organically unified with the resolution of issues on the ground. We must improve long-term mechanisms for network ecosystem governance, continuing to crack down on illegal and non-compliant behaviors that the public feels strongly about—such as online rumors, harmful information, fake news, cyber-extortion, and "water armies" [4]. In particular, we must improve the system for protecting minors online, resolutely rectifying behaviors that induce minors toward blind celebrity worship, excessive "tipping" and digital top-ups, or addiction to online games.
Rapidly perfecting mechanisms for the development and management of generative artificial intelligence. From the automatic generation of text and images to the construction of virtual scenes, generative AI is redefining the paradigm of information dissemination in human society with its disruptive and pioneering nature. Without appropriate management mechanisms, this technology could be abused to manufacture false information or even threaten the ecosystem of public opinion. Looking ahead, we must both support the positive application of generative AI in various fields and perfect its management mechanisms to promote technological progress and orderly industrial development with security. Specifically, efforts should be made in the following areas: We must respect social morality and ethics, ensuring that generative AI complies with legal requirements during data acquisition and model training. We must protect users' personal information and privacy rights, preventing the abuse of user data, while enhancing user experience and security through clear service specifications and safety measures. We must strictly label generated content such as images and videos to improve the accuracy and reliability of generated outputs. Finally, we must perfect strict mechanisms for legal accountability to ensure that generative AI service providers comply with laws and regulations.
Strengthening the construction of the rule of law in cyberspace. Cyberspace is neither a lawless land nor an enclave for public opinion. Only by continuously perfecting and effectively enforcing laws and regulations can we ensure that the Internet operates healthily within the orbit of the rule of law. We must improve network management laws and regulations, accelerating the pace of legislation in key and cutting-edge areas such as AI, the digital economy, network data security, and the opposition to cyber-violence. We should strengthen the construction of network law enforcement teams, enhancing the professional literacy and technical capabilities of enforcement personnel, and introducing advanced technical means to improve the precision and efficiency of network enforcement. We should strengthen cooperation between the Cyberspace Administration and departments such as public security and the judiciary to achieve information sharing and resource integration, forming a synergy to combat cybercrime. We should strengthen publicity and education regarding the rule of law on the network, elevating public legal awareness and cyber-literacy to create a favorable atmosphere where the whole of society jointly maintains the rule of law in cyberspace. Finally, we must establish international cybersecurity cooperation mechanisms to jointly address cross-border cybercrime and threats, enhancing the security level of global cyberspace.