Peking University, Sydney Co-host Policy & Internet Conference 2026

Summary

The Policy & Internet Conference 2026 was held at the University of Sydney from 30 September to 2 October 2026, co-hosted by the University of Sydney's Department of Media and Communications and Peking University's School of Journalism and Communication. It was the first time the conference has partnered with an Asian university. The event is affiliated with Policy & Internet, an international academic journal covering communication and public policy.

First held at the University of Oxford in 2010, it is a biennial academic gathering that has long focused on internet policy, digital governance and platform power. More than 100 scholars and experts from universities and research institutions in China, Australia, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and other countries attended, discussing frontier issues including internet policy, AI governance, platform regulation, digital culture and global communication. At the opening ceremony, Chen Gang, Dean of Peking University's School of Journalism and Communication, delivered a keynote speech.

He said the University of Sydney is a leading centre for global media and communication research, and that Peking University and the University of Sydney have long maintained strong exchange and cooperation. In July this year, Peking University's School of Journalism and Communication and the University of Sydney's Department of Media and Communications co-hosted the inaugural 'Communication, Technology and Culture' International Summer School in Beijing, where students from the University of Sydney and other overseas universities undertook 11 days of study and discussion on internet governance, AI and advertising, and digital culture. Chen Gang summarised the characteristics of China's internet and AI governance with three keywords: 'coordinated', 'agile' and 'inclusive', stressing the need to balance development and security and to advance regulation and innovation in tandem.

On the afternoon of 30 September, a roundtable titled 'Digital Culture and Governance: From China to the World' was chaired by Liu Jinhe, Assistant Professor at Peking University's School of Journalism and Communication. Participants included Fran Martin, Professor at the University of Melbourne's School of Culture and Communication; Gerard Goggin, Professor at Western Sydney University and Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney; Xu Jing, Professor at Peking University's School of Journalism and Communication; Wilfred Yang Wang, Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne's School of Culture and Communication; Su Chunmeizi, Lecturer at the University of Sydney's Department of Media and Communications; and Ou Mengxue, Assistant Professor at Peking University's School of Journalism and Communication. They discussed three themes: digital culture development, digital governance innovation and the global digital order.

During the conference, the delegation also held in-depth discussions on future cooperation with Priscila Trevisan, Deputy Director of International Cooperation at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; Darren Svanfelds, International Programs Coordinator; Joanne Gray, Head of the Department of Media and Communications at the University of Sydney; and Su Chunmeizi.

Commentary

The Policy & Internet Conference 2026, the first to partner with an Asian university, was co-hosted by the University of Sydney and Peking University and focused on internet policy, AI governance and platform regulation. While this academic development does not directly involve New Zealand-China trade, the direction of digital governance rules will profoundly shape the global digital trade environment. New Zealand SMEs involved in cross-border e-commerce, digital services or reliant on cross-border data flows need to watch whether China and Australia converge or diverge on issues such as AI governance and platform responsibility.

For example, China emphasises 'coordinated development and security', while Australia places greater weight on privacy and consumer protection. Coordination between the two could give rise to new regional digital trade standards. As a member of CPTPP and DEPA, New Zealand has its own interests in cross-border data flows and digital services taxes, and should actively participate in such multilateral dialogues to avoid passively accepting rules.

The roundtable on 'Digital Culture and Governance' discussed practical experience from China and Australia. New Zealand firms can learn from their regulatory innovations, particularly in content moderation and algorithmic transparency, and build compliance capabilities in advance. If academic and policy exchanges between New Zealand and China strengthen in future, they may provide local firms with clearer compliance guidance and market access signals.

Keywords: Policy & Internet Conference, Peking University School of Journalism and Communication, University of Sydney Department of Media and Communications, Chen Gang, digital governance, AI governance, international academic cooperation, digital culture

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

2026年9月30日至10月2日，2026年“政策与互联网会议”（Policy & Internet Conference 2026）在悉尼大学举行。会议由悉尼大学媒体与传播系与北京大学新闻与传播学院联合举办，是该会议首次与亚洲高校合作。会议依托传播学与公共政策领域国际学术期刊 Policy & Internet，2010年在牛津大学首次召开，为双年学术盛会，长期聚焦互联网政策、数字治理、平台权力等议题。

来自中国、澳大利亚、美国、加拿大、新西兰等多个国家高校与科研机构的百余名专家学者参会，围绕互联网政策、人工智能治理、平台监管、数字文化与全球传播等前沿方向开展研讨。开幕式上，北京大学新闻与传播学院院长陈刚应邀作主旨演讲，指出悉尼大学是全球媒介与传播研究领域的学术重镇，北京大学与悉尼大学长期保持良好交流合作关系；今年7月，北京大学新闻与传播学院联合悉尼大学媒体与传播系在北京举办首届“传播、科技与文化”国际暑期学校，来自悉尼大学等海外高校的学员围绕互联网治理、人工智能与广告、数字文化发展等议题开展了为期11天的学习研讨。陈刚以“统筹”“敏捷”“普惠”3个关键词概括中国互联网与人工智能治理特点，强调应兼顾发展与安全，推动监管与创新协调并进。

9月30日下午，圆桌对话“数字文化与治理：从中国到全球”由北京大学新闻与传播学院助理教授刘金河主持，墨尔本大学文化与传播学院教授Fran Martin、西悉尼大学教授及悉尼大学荣誉教授Gerard Goggin、北京大学新闻与传播学院教授许静、墨尔本大学文化与传播学院高级讲师Wilfred Yang Wang、悉尼大学媒体与传播系讲师苏春美子、北京大学新闻与传播学院助理教授欧梦雪参与对话，围绕“数字文化发展”“数字治理创新”与“全球数字秩序”3个层面展开讨论。会议期间，代表团还与悉尼大学艺术与社会科学学院国际合作副主任Priscila Trevisan、国际项目协调员Darren Svanfelds，悉尼大学媒体与传播学系主任Joanne Gray及苏春美子就未来合作事宜深入交流。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

2026年“政策与互联网会议”首次与亚洲高校合作，由悉尼大学与北京大学联合举办，聚焦互联网政策、人工智能治理与平台监管。这一学术动态虽不直接涉及中新经贸，但数字治理规则的走向将深刻影响全球数字贸易环境。新西兰中小企业若涉足跨境电商、数字服务或依赖跨境数据流动，需关注中国与澳大利亚在AI治理、平台责任等议题上的立场趋同或分歧。

例如，中国强调“统筹发展与安全”，而澳大利亚更侧重隐私与消费者保护，两者协调可能催生新的区域数字贸易标准。新西兰作为CPTPP和DEPA成员，在数据跨境流动和数字服务税方面有自身诉求，应积极参与此类多边对话，避免被动接受规则。会议中“数字文化与治理”圆桌讨论了中国与澳洲的实践经验，新西兰企业可借鉴其监管创新，尤其在内容审核、算法透明等领域提前布局合规能力。

未来，若中新学术与政策交流加强，或为本地企业提供更清晰的合规指引和市场准入信号。

关键词: 政策与互联网会议, 北京大学新闻与传播学院, 悉尼大学媒体与传播系, 陈刚, 数字治理, 人工智能治理, 国际学术合作, 数字文化

Source: Peking University Home Page