Social Credit System in China

Overview of the Social Credit System

• A system where citizens are monitored and scored based on their behavior.
• Scores influence access to services (e.g., boarding trains, mortgages).
• The concept may seem like fiction (e.g., Black Mirror), but it's a reality in China.

Key Components

• Big Data and AI: The system relies on extensive data collection and surveillance, including approximately 200 million cameras.
• Social Credit Scores: Ranges from 350 to 950, assessing citizens based on their habits and behaviors.
  • Positive behaviors (e.g., buying necessities) enhance scores.
  • Negative behaviors (e.g., excessive gaming, excessive alcohol consumption) lower scores.

Case Study: How You

• 21 years old, solid academic record, rated at 752 by Sesame Credit.
• Benefits of a high score:
  • Discounts and privileges (e.g., using shared bikes without a deposit).
• Views the system positively; believes it encourages good citizenship.

National Implementation

• The social credit system will be nationalized, assigning scores to all citizens for life.
• Context: China’s rapid economic growth led to issues of trust, necessitating such a system.

Examples of Social Credit Monitoring

• City of Rongcheng: Model for social credit with public displays of citizen ratings, clean streets, and community enforcement.
  • Citizens start with 1,000 points; can gain or lose points based on behavior (e.g., jaywalking, littering).
  • Local TV broadcasts daily performance highlights.
• Information Collectors: Citizens are hired to monitor and report on neighbors' behaviors.

Consequences of Low Social Credit

• Individuals blacklisted face severe restrictions:
  • Cannot buy airplane/train tickets, access certain jobs, or enroll children in schools.
  • Public shaming through galleries and apps displaying discredited individuals.
• Example: Wang Wei Jun was blacklisted after a business dispute, affecting his mobility and life opportunities.

Privacy Concerns and Acceptance

• Nearly half of the world’s surveillance cameras are in China; concerns over privacy and surveillance grow.
• However, many citizens accept the system for perceived safety benefits.

Future Developments

• Algorithms and AI are advancing surveillance capabilities, raising concerns about privacy and data use.
• Long-term outlook uncertain; the potential for more pervasive surveillance is anticipated over the next 10-20 years.

Personal Impact

• How You’s life is largely shaped by her social credit score; upcoming integration of education, medical records, and legal issues into the scoring system.