The Chinese Model of “Digital Fengqiao” Empowering Grassroots Human Rights Protection

HU Ming* & ZHANG Hang**

Abstract: Grassroots human rights protection constitutes the final link and foundational component of national human rights development. In the digital era, “Digital Fengqiao,” as a core achievement of the digital transformation of the “Fengqiao Experience” in the New Era, provides a systematic practical framework for grassroots human rights protection. Meanwhile, digital technologies, including big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and embodied AI, provide comprehensive technical support to empower grassroots human rights protection. Taking the pioneering practice of Zhejiang — the birthplace of the “Fengqiao Experience” — as a case study, this article comprehensively reviews the practical panorama of “Digital Fengqiao” in empowering grassroots human rights protection across four major domains: conflict and dispute resolution, public service delivery, grassroots democratic participation, and risk prevention and control. It analyzes the multiple practical dilemmas and human rights infringement risks faced during its operation, and ultimately abstracts and constructs a Chinese model of “Digital Fengqiao” empowering grassroots human rights protection that possesses both local originality and practical effectiveness. The article articulates the fourfold intrinsic logic — value, institution, technology, and practice — and six core practical characteristics of this model. This model not only offers a systematic implementation pathway for translating the human rights development path with Chinese characteristics into effective local practices, but also provides valuable Chinese insights for the diversified governance of grassroots human rights in the global digital era.

Keywords: “Digital Fengqiao” grassroots human rights protection ·  “Fengqiao Experience” in the new era ·  Chinese model  ·  rule-of-law protection of human rights