China Seminar | 11 May 2017

The Evolution of China’s “Informatization” Policy: From Village Phones to Cyber Sovereignty

Richard D. Taylor

What are China’s plans for Cyberspace? This talk will discuss how Chinese Cyber-policy has evolved, what it currently embraces, and where the Chinese government hopes it will be going. The concept of “Informatization” embraces all aspects of national information technology development, implementation and use. While to an outsider it might look easy for a strong central government to implement a well organized and balanced national plan, the reality has been much more complex. Seized with the importance of the geopolitical implications of Cyberspace, President Xi Jinping has set forth policies, and sought allies, for a Chinese vision of a globally governed Cyberspace whose policies are set by sovereign governments, particularly with respect to content management and cyber security. Prof. Taylor is Distinguished Professor in Residence, UHM. In 2015 he retired as Palmer Chair and Professor of Telecommunications Studies and Law Emeritus, Penn State U., after 26 years of teaching. He was previously vice president for Warner Cable Communications Inc., NYC. He is co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Information Policy, co-Director Emeritus of the Institute for Information Policy, and has published and served as members as wells as leadership roles in many telecommunication related organizations, including President Obama’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications Advisory Group. As a member of American Bar Assoc., NY State Bar Assoc. and Fed. Communications Bar Assoc., he holds a PhD in Mass Communications from Columbia and a law degree from NYU.