IGF 2024 Open Forum #17 Legalization of data governance

    Classroom
    Duration (minutes): 90
    Format description: The room layout and duration helps offline/online speakers to fully express their own opinions and insights, facilitates interaction and communication between the audience and experts, and also helps online participants to have a panoramic view of the forum scene, helping to present a "face to face" visual and auditory effect during the whole meeting process.

    Description

    With the profound development of globalization and digitalization, the seamless flow and utilization of data have become essential drivers of economic innovation and social development. Faced with the opportunities for development and security risks associated with the massive processing and application of data, individuals worldwide are increasingly recognizing the crucial importance of fair and effective data governance in promoting public welfare and ensuring sustainable development. Furthermore, there is also a growing recognition of the need for comprehensive ecosystem cultivation and a sound legal framework oriented towards future needs in data governance. As effective data governance is of great value to public well-being and sustainable development, the future-oriented data governance requires good rule of law safeguards. The Bureau of Internet Laws and Regulations of Cyberspace Administration of China intends to organize an open forum to exchange and share the insights on the current status and development trends of data governance in different countries and regions around the world, to explore and study the main concerns and challenges and their legal responses, and to promote the strengthening of international exchanges and cooperation in the field of legalization of data governance.

    1. Utilize appropriate video conferencing tools such as Zoom or similar platforms, complemented with online/offline audiovisual streaming equipment, to ensure that online participants have a comprehensive view of the conference venue throughout the entire duration. Simultaneously, guarantee that offline speakers and attendees have full visibility of all online participants, thereby achieving a "face-to-face" visual and auditory experience for both online and offline attendees.
    2. The conference is structured into four main segments: opening remarks, keynote speeches, interactive Q&A sessions, and closing remarks. The on-site host and online host will collaborate seamlessly to organize and host the entire event, ensuring efficient time management and providing ample opportunities for all stakeholders to express their views. Following the completion of on-site speeches, the hosts will guide online participants to share real-time insights and perspectives on the conference theme. They may also pose relevant questions to the on-site speakers, who will provide immediate responses. Furthermore, the hosts will ensure a structured cross-interaction between online and offline participants, maintaining a smooth flow of engagement according to the predetermined schedule.
    3. Throughout the conference, a comprehensive assessment should be made regarding the adoption of suitable tools/platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Weibo. This will enable the broadest possible participation and enhance the level of interaction during the conference.

    Organizers

    Bureau of Internet Laws and Regulations, Cyberspace Administration of China
    1. Li Changxi, Director of Bureau of Internet Laws and Regulations, Cyberspace Administration of China.
    2. Liang Yingxiu, Dean and Professor, School of Law, Beijing Normal University.
    3. Isabelle Servoz-Gallucci (Female), Head of Data Protection, Council of Europe.
    4. Jesus Lau, Co-Chair of the International Steering Committee of the UNESCO Alliance for Media and Information Literacy and Vice-Rector of the University of Veracruz, Mexico.
    5. Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director, European Center for International Political Economy (ECIPE).
    6. Wu Shenkuo, Associate Professor, School of Law, Beijing Normal University.(Onsite Moderator)
    7. Ai Huizi(female), Assistant Professor of Law School, Beijing Normal University.(Online Moderator )

    Speakers

    1. Li Changxi, Director of Bureau of Internet Laws and Regulations, Cyberspace Administration of China.
    2. Liang Yingxiu, Dean and Professor, School of Law, Beijing Normal University.
    3. Isabelle Servoz-Gallucci (Female), Head of Data Protection, Council of Europe.
    4. Jesus Lau, Co-Chair of the International Steering Committee of the UNESCO Alliance for Media and Information Literacy and Vice-Rector of the University of Veracruz, Mexico.
    5. Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director, European Center for International Political Economy (ECIPE).
    6. Wu Shenkuo, Associate Professor, School of Law, Beijing Normal University.(Onsite Moderator)
    7. Ai Huizi(female), Assistant Professor of Law School, Beijing Normal University.(Online Moderator )

    Onsite Moderator

    Wu Shenkuo, Associate Professor, School of Law, Beijing Normal University.

    Online Moderator

    Ai Huizi(female), Assistant Professor of Law School, Beijing Normal University

    Rapporteur

    Wu Shenkuo, Associate Professor, School of Law, Beijing Normal University.

    SDGs

    16.10
    16.b


    Targets: As part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, “ensuring citizens’ access to information and their fundamental freedoms based on national legislation and international agreements” and “promoting and implementing non-discriminatory laws and sustainable development policies” have positive significance in advancing the rule of law in data governance. In the process of data governance, the construction and improvement of the rule of law mechanisms can ensure that citizens enjoy legitimate rights and interests in a secure, transparent, and trustworthy big data environment. It plays a crucial role in the achievement of sustainable development goals and the promotion of international socio-economic development and social justice. The establishment of a robust legal framework for data governance, ensuring the legality of data, privacy protection, and fair use, holds significant value in achieving sustainable development objectives.

    First, the rule of law in data governance ensures the legal and secure processing of data within a legal framework, regulating the flow and utilization of data. Countries around the world are committed to the formulation and improvement of laws such as personal information protection laws and data security laws, ensuring the legality and compliance of data collection, processing, and sharing. Proper global protection of data information can effectively safeguard data security. The process of rule of law in data governance regulates the relevant obligations of governments, businesses, and other organizations in data processing, in line with the sustainable development goals of data governance.

    Second, data governance through the rule of law ensures data transparency. It establishes fair rules for data usage and open-source mechanisms to prevent the misuse and discriminatory use of data across regions and departments. It establishes rights and obligations for data usage, creates transparency mechanisms for data sharing and access, promotes fair distribution and diversified utilization of data, specifies the methods of data collection, processing, usage, and storage, and limits the abuse and illegal acquisition of public data. Data transparency enables the public to understand the process of data processing, promotes the free access, circulation, and open discussion of information.

    Furthermore, the rule of law in data governance strengthens social participation and public oversight, promoting sustainable development through increased public engagement. The establishment of independent regulatory bodies and review mechanisms supervises and evaluates data processing and usage, ensuring the legitimacy and compliance requirements of data governance. Promoting public participation, monitoring in the data governance process, and strengthening the accountability of governments and other relevant entities, enhance the ability and legal awareness of citizens and other social organizations to acquire information, and ensures the fairness and legality of the data governance process.

    Finally, data governance helps enhance social digital inclusion and assists developing countries in strengthening data capabilities to uphold human rights in the digital era. Data inequality is a significant challenge globally, with many developing countries facing gaps in data acquisition, analysis, and utilization capabilities. Non-discriminatory laws and policies can ensure equal opportunities and resources for all members of society, regardless of their background. Through providing technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and capacity training, data governance supports developing countries in enhancing their data capabilities, bridging the data gaps, and ensuring that developing countries can fully participate in and benefit from the process of sustainable development. By constructing an international legal framework, it promotes the voice and influence of developing countries in data cooperation, sharing, and exchange, and advances the collective achievement of sustainable development goals worldwide.

    The rule of law in the development of data governance holds significant value in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It will establish a legal framework that meets the requirements of the development of the times and social needs, strengthen the role of supervision and law enforcement agencies, and promote the implementation of laws and regulations. In the process of data governance, with the goal of establishing a digitally inclusive and digitally equal society, it will strive to build a more fair and transparent data governance system, fully protect the public's right and freedom to obtain information, and promote the sustainable development of data governance.