Smart cities in China: sustainable or surveyed

Abstract

China is home to some 800 smart cities projects aspiring to win the global race toward building advanced data-driven society - causing both awe and concern around the world. CCP leadership has been signalling the importance of smart cities development, to the point of including it in national strategy - over the past decade, China has become a global leader in smart city initiatives – advancements in big data and artificial intelligence (AI) powered analysis undoubtedly improved urban management and digital technologies are extensively interwoven into the everyday life of denizens of Chinese cities and villages. The government has been presenting initiatives related to smart city programme as a way of bringing the citizens closer to the state, building a “harmonious society” through a “culture of honesty”. But what is the extent to which integration of citizen into smart systems changes life in data-enabled cities? This paper will present an overview of the findings in current research of the implications of Chinese approach to smart city concept. It will be also an attempt to highlight the crucial elements of cyber security in the context of Internet of Things (IoT) and smart solutions employed in China.