Conquering the Datasphere: Assessing the Threat of Chinese Data Collection

**This lecture is part of the Student Speaker Series**

About the Lecture:

Through engagements like the Digital Silk Road and various state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has succeeded in creating an immense global network for data collection and stores of the world’s data. This capability is unnerving, but a more serious threat emerges coupled with CCP’s intentions to dominate on the world stage. Direct risk to the US varies depending on how the CCP will learn to process and use this data—whether for economic or coercive advantage. We can assume they would seek both, but the US knows little about what or how much data has been collected or the advancement of Chinese data learning technologies. Using the international financial system as inspiration, a model for monitoring, limiting, and reporting on global data collection and trading emerges that could provide the transparency needed to prevent China from conquering the datasphere.

About the Speaker:

Laren Reesman came to IWP with a B.A. in Intelligence Studies and double minors in French and Anti-Money Laundering from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. She has always been interested in public service, foreign affairs, and policy. Laren completed her Master of Arts in Statecraft and National Security specializing in Defense at IWP summer of 2024. She has focused on China as a US adversary and hopes to help strengthen the US against Chinese threats. Laren honed her research skills through her time at IWP and is excited to share a relevant and emerging topic with her peers.

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