Wuzhen Conference signals China internet policy shift

Subject

China's internet policy.

Significance

The third World Internet Conference, held in the city of Wuzhen last month, provides clues about China's cyber policy under the new head of the Cyberspace Administration, who took over earlier this year.

Impacts

• The Cyberspace Administration of China is likely to play a lower-key role from now on.
• Foreign governments face an urgent question about engagement or non-engagement with China in cyberspace.
• Engagement would mean meeting China halfway on its demands; participation in the Wuzhen process would be one way.