School of Law Research Seminar

The School of Law Research Seminar presented by Professor Zhiqiong June Wang is on 'Government as a Platform Chinese Style: The Health Code and it's Future in China' The seminar will canvas the use of the Health Code in China since early 2020 is not without controversy, not just because it raises concerns about privacy and data security, but also because it might become a permanent feature in China’s daily life. This paper suggests that the nature of the Health Code needs to be understood within the overall digital ecosystem in China, which includes national strategies on informationalisation, big data, AI and Smart Cities. These digitalisation strategies were introduced for a three-fold objective: economic development, social governance and control, and the delivery of public services. Like many other countries, China has taken a ‘Government as a Platform’ (GaaP) approach to modernising social governance and to delivering public services. However, it is argued that, unlike in many other countries, GaaP products in China are distinct in nature; they are to fulfil a dual function of social control and delivery of government services. As such, the Health Code as a GaaP product will likely become a new kind of identification mechanism that delivers government services as well as social control.

Zoom

Link: https://uws.zoom.us/j/81694171521?pwd=Z1RJRHIxd3ZoWklJWm5hcTFZSUU2QT09

Meeting ID: 816 9417 1521

Password: 606855