ICS Analysis

Chinese hi-tech companies have enormous access to data. Major technology companies in China such as Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent still retain their founders as leaders. These leaders exercise considerable control over and are guiding their companies’ data strategies. However, the Chinese government has been perturbed by the unhindered power and reaches of companies and has endeavoured to undertake measures to retake control. This has not deterred Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent who under their founders continue to find new avenues to data acquisition in conjunction with government priorities. The research has attempted to analyse the Chinese government’s actions pertaining to data regulations; to explore the sources of data for Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu; and to evaluate the emergence of new technologies and their future ramifications.

Keywords: Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, Data, Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse