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High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy
In High Wire, Angela Huyue Zhang provides a comprehensive and sophisticated overview of how China regulates its enormous tech sector. By closely scrutinizing the incentives and interactions among the key players, Zhang introduces a dynamic pyramid model to analyze the structure, process, and outcome of China's unique regulatory system. She showcases the shrewd self-regulatory tactics employed by Chinese tech titans to survive and thrive in an institutional environment plagued by endemic fraud and corruption. She also reveals how the Chinese State has given a helping hand to digital platforms by offering them indispensable judicial support.
Through a robust analysis of the tumultuous 2020-2022 tech crackdown, Zhang explores the model's profound impact on three vital pillars of Chinese platform regulation, including antitrust, data, and labor enforcement. As Zhang demonstrates, the tech crackdown has led to the private sector's retreat and the state's advancement in the tech industry. These regulatory shifts have also steered investors from consumer tech businesses toward hardcore technologies that are essential for China's bid to overtake the United States in innovation.
More than just a study of China, Zhang offers a global perspective by comparing China's regulatory landscape with rapidly moving developments in the United States and the European Union. This comparative analysis reveals the shared regulatory challenges all face and sheds light on the future direction of Chinese tech regulation. Finally, she peers into the future of China's tech governance, specifically focusing on the burgeoning realm of generative artificial intelligence.
Providing an unparalleled deep dive into China's rapidly evolving digital economy, High Wire is a must-read for those interested in how the manifold ways in which China regulates and governs its economy._
Through a robust analysis of the tumultuous 2020-2022 tech crackdown, Zhang explores the model's profound impact on three vital pillars of Chinese platform regulation, including antitrust, data, and labor enforcement. As Zhang demonstrates, the tech crackdown has led to the private sector's retreat and the state's advancement in the tech industry. These regulatory shifts have also steered investors from consumer tech businesses toward hardcore technologies that are essential for China's bid to overtake the United States in innovation.
More than just a study of China, Zhang offers a global perspective by comparing China's regulatory landscape with rapidly moving developments in the United States and the European Union. This comparative analysis reveals the shared regulatory challenges all face and sheds light on the future direction of Chinese tech regulation. Finally, she peers into the future of China's tech governance, specifically focusing on the burgeoning realm of generative artificial intelligence.
Providing an unparalleled deep dive into China's rapidly evolving digital economy, High Wire is a must-read for those interested in how the manifold ways in which China regulates and governs its economy._
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 7, 2024
Two quotes:
"a complex network of feedback loops exists within the dynamic pyramid model, interlinking hierarchy, volatility, and fragility. First, the hierarchical regulatory structure can directly influence volatility in regulatory outcomes. Three main contributors to volatility in China’s regulatory process— the complex utility function of the top leadership, the absence of checks and balances, and inefficient information transmission— all stem from the top- down nature of policymaking."
"Having invested heavily in the AI industry, the Chinese government is unlikely to take a harsh stance that could hinder its progress. Instead, the focus of regulation is likely to be primarily on controlling information and content to mitigate threats to social and political stability. Thus, although the interim measures on generative AI appear extensive in scope, they actually afford Chinese tech firms considerable leeway to expand and flourish within the industry. In this regard, China’s approach significantly diverges from the evolving regulatory stances of the United States and the European Union. While the United States has largely abstained from implementing substantial measures to regulate generative AI, the European Union is vigorously regulating AI by leveraging a complex array of existing legal instruments and introducing the new AI Act."
"a complex network of feedback loops exists within the dynamic pyramid model, interlinking hierarchy, volatility, and fragility. First, the hierarchical regulatory structure can directly influence volatility in regulatory outcomes. Three main contributors to volatility in China’s regulatory process— the complex utility function of the top leadership, the absence of checks and balances, and inefficient information transmission— all stem from the top- down nature of policymaking."
"Having invested heavily in the AI industry, the Chinese government is unlikely to take a harsh stance that could hinder its progress. Instead, the focus of regulation is likely to be primarily on controlling information and content to mitigate threats to social and political stability. Thus, although the interim measures on generative AI appear extensive in scope, they actually afford Chinese tech firms considerable leeway to expand and flourish within the industry. In this regard, China’s approach significantly diverges from the evolving regulatory stances of the United States and the European Union. While the United States has largely abstained from implementing substantial measures to regulate generative AI, the European Union is vigorously regulating AI by leveraging a complex array of existing legal instruments and introducing the new AI Act."
July 16, 2024
A useful model to think about regulatory dynamics in China, which is grounded in interesting case studies.
August 25, 2024
Informative, timely
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews