On June 16, the first Summit on Digital Technology and Law, sponsored by China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), and the unveiling ceremony of the Institute of Digital Technology and Law (IDTL) of CUPL, the Innovation Base of Digital Technology and Law Discipline (111 Plan), and the Joint Laboratory of Intelligent Law were held in Beijing. Prof. Ma Huaide, President of CUPL, delivered a speech on behalf of CUPL. Prof. Hu Ming, Council Chair of CUPL, delivered a concluding speech.
At the summit, scholars, experts and practitioners had an academic dialogue on digital technology, data governance and intelligent law. They also held an in-depth discussion on data ownership and data ownership systems, rules of data behavior and data behavior systems, data security, governance of data platform and algorithm, as well as the cultivation of professionals for digital technology and law. In addition, participants exchanged views on digital technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and 5G, as well as on interactions among digital technologies and smart legislation, smart law enforcement and smart justice.
International experts from six countries, i.e., Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with officials of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) extended their video congratulations to CUPL on the establishment of the Institute, and their hopes for further cooperation with CUPL on the research of data law. Teresa Moreira, Head of the Competition and Consumer Policies Branch of UNCTAD, said that the inauguration of the “data law” discipline was well-timed and that she was looking forward to its future development.
In 2016, CUPL identified the research on legal issues caused by digital technology as a scientific research strategy, bringing about many scientific research achievements and research projects; In 2019, CUPL identified data law as an emerging interdisciplinary discipline; in 2020, CUPL applied for the identification of data law as a second-level discipline outside the list of law discipline approved by the Ministry of Education; on March 16, 2021, the Innovation Base of Digital Technology and Law Discipline (111 plan, i.e. the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities) was approved by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Technology. A total of 16 international experts were introduced to CUPL through this plan; in May 2021, CUPL signed an agreement with the China Justice Big Data Institute on the Joint Laboratory of Intelligent Law; in June 2021, CUPL approved the establishment of IDTL for quality teaching and researching of the data law discipline.
