CKN Report Presentation - Public Values of Chinese Digital Technologies and their Impacts on Europe

Chinese digital technologies are becoming an increasingly visible part of everyday life in Europe. From social media platforms like TikTok and ecommerce giants like Shein, to BYD vehicles and Chinese open-source AI models, technologies developed in China are reaching European consumers on an unprecedented scale. Even inspiring imitation by global competitors like Instagram and YouTube.

This reflects a broader shift in the technology landscape. Whereas digital technologies used to come nearly exclusively from the United States, Chinese digital technologies are now emerging as significant actors in European markets and society. Yet while awareness of the opportunities and challenges posed by digital technologies has grown, the contexts that shape Chinese approaches to technology remain poorly understood.

As digital technologies increasingly influence public values such as privacy, equal treatment, autonomy and human dignity, understanding the values and ideas embedded in their design and operation has become more important than ever.

This new China Knowledge Network (CKN) report explored how Chinese values shape the governance, development and adaptation of digital technologies, and what their growing prominence means for Europe. Helping European audiences understand Chinese digital technologies on their own terms.

This session provided an opportunity to discuss this topic with report authors: Carwyn Morris (SOAS, University of London), Adam Knight (YASO & TONG Global), Rogier Creemers (Leiden University) and Vincent Brussee (Leiden University). Following the welcome and introduction, the speakers presented the key findings of their report and engaged in a Q&A with the attendees.

About the speakers

• Carwyn Morris is Associate Professor in the Department of Media Studies, SOAS University of London.
• Adam Knight is co-founder of TONG Global and YASO, and Oxford alumnus. Holding a PhD from Leiden University.
• Rogier Creemers is Assistant Professor in the Law and Governance of China at Leiden University. 
• Vincent Brussee is a PhD Candidate at Leiden University, specializing in text mining approaches to understand Chinese policy.