Regulation of Internet: technical, normative or cultural conception; a cross comparison between Europe and China

Debates on the regulation of Internet are not only technical. They also reflect values and conceptions of regulation and the examination should also include normative and cultural questions.

The western countries have similar positions on Internet: self-regulation or delegation to a structure. The USA, according to their position on freedom of speech, is in favour of the first one. The European union, according to their consensus way, consider that Internet should have limits regarding the interest of the community.

The Chinese regulation of Internet is decided by the power culturally based arguments: control inside and lobbying outside the country. In that way, China is trying to influence the development of norms, by proposing appropriates candidates.

This work presents the European and the Chinese positions concerning regulation of Internet in the international forums. It tries to gives a description of corporate environment and regulation, without excluding the censorship aspect.