Recently, the Fourth International Symposium on the History of the Internet was held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province. Centred on the theme "Sixty Years of the Global Internet (1969–2029)", the conference drew participation from scholars across numerous countries and regions worldwide.
The conference reviewed its four-year evolution from regional exchanges to a global platform, continuing to advance internet history research beyond Western-centric perspectives and fostering an inclusive academic community. Topics encompassed digital equality, transnational archival integration, and non-Western innovation practices, systematically showcasing exemplary cases such as Chinese character encoding and internet accessibility initiatives in El Salvador.
At the opening ceremony, Fang Xingdong, Executive Vice Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Zhejiang University, stated that the conference aims to serve as a "router" connecting researchers and practitioners, propelling internet history studies from academic exchange towards diverse collaboration. During the event, three concrete initiatives were launched: the documentary Global Internet: 60 Years, the book launch of China's Internet: 30 Years, and the compilation of the Handbook of Internet History.
The keynote forum explored topics including internet governance, the digital divide, and pluralistic civilisations. Parallel sessions yielded four action initiatives through roundtable discussions, covering archival documentation, global talent cultivation, international governance practices, and media archaeology research.
At the conference's conclusion, consensus was reached to establish regular publication of proceedings, prioritise uncovering innovative practices in non-Western regions, deepen international collaboration, and bolster Wuzhen's role as a pivotal platform for global internet history research and co-building digital civilisation.