Explainer and analysis of CNCERT/CC (国家互联网应急中心)
Project summary
The National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China (CNCERT/CC) is emerging as a key institutional player in Chinese AI governance. Much about it remains unknown and overlooked in policy discourse. This project examines the functions of the CNCERT/CC in order to shed light on its likely influence on China’s AI policy trajectory.
What are this project's goals and how will you achieve them?
The goal is to produce a legible writeup for policy audiences which adds to their existing view of the Chinese AI governance landscape. Timeline: early Jan - mid Feb 2024.
This will be achieved by
Identifying, translating, and summarizing primary sources relevant to understanding the CNCERT/CC’s priorities, expertise, and institutional connections.
In particular, I plan to focus on the CNCERT/CC’s relationship with the newly established expert committee on AI security governance under its supervision, drawing on a similar relationship between the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the algorithm registry as well as updates from the new committee.
Analyzing the implications of this view of CNCERT/CC, such as how China’s AI regulations are likely to evolve to address cybersecurity concerns.
This will be done through literature review on Chinese AI governance and input from researchers with relevant expertise.
How will this funding be used?
4-6 weeks salary, $600/week
Who is on your team and what's your track record on similar projects?
Matt Sheehan
What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails? (premortem)
Low tractability due to insufficient information available about the CNCERT/CC and its intentions regarding AI security governance. Based on an initial search, I put this at 20%-40% likely. This can probably be mitigated by consulting with people familiar with Chinese AI governance or the institution.
I may lack domain-specific knowledge and heuristics to project findings about the CNCERT/CC onto insights about Chinese AI policy. I put this about 10% likely with the available mentorship. In the worst case, this results in the project being a explainer without analysis, which I think would still be worthwhile.
I turn out to be fundamentally wrong about the CNCERT/CC’s importance and neglectedness in policy research. I put this at about 10-40% likely.
What other funding are you or your project getting?
None