China to roll out 'social credit' system - Hunger Games Style

borosp1

Senior member
Apr 12, 2003
491
451
136
This is some next level (1984, Black Mirror, Hunger Games, Big Brother) authoritarian tyranny sh!t happening in China where every citizen will be designated a social credit score, in which they will be monitored 24/7 and ranked on their behavior according to the communist Chinese government. Currently the 'social credit' system is being tested in certain parts of china and by 2020 every one of its 1.4 billion citizens will get a personal digital scorecard.

Individuals and businesses will be scored on various aspects of their conduct -- where you go, what you buy and who you know -- and these scores will be integrated within a comprehensive database that not only links into government information, but also to data collected by private businesses.

In America we have 2 things that I can think of that relate created that put a limit on freedoms and opportunity (ie social credit) are the great focus and tracking in America of credit scores in many parts of society including limiting one in getting a job, loans, and purchasing power over time. Also one with a criminal record even a small thing like getting arrested for "Disorderly Conduct" for protesting inequity can affect your job prospects and potential earning ability for years to come. This is nothing compared to what China is proposing doing to its citizens. I feel some citizens in China will be black listed forever if they don't agree with the communist govt (having a low social credit score) which is an affront to human freedoms.

The data is combined with information collected from individuals’ government records — including medical and educational — along with their financial and internet browsing histories. Overall scores can go up and down in “real time” dependent on the person’s behavior but they can also be affected by people they associate with.

“If your best friend or your dad says something negative about the government, you’ll lose points too,” the ABC reports.

The mandatory “social credit” system was first announced in 2014 in a bid to reinforce the notion that “keeping trust is glorious and breaking trust is disgraceful,”
Under the system, those deemed to be “top citizens” are rewarded bonus points.

The benefits of being ranked on the higher end of the scale include waived deposits on hotels and rental cars, VIP treatment at airports, discounted loans, priority job applications and fast-tracking to the most prestigious universities.

MODEL CITIZENS

Under the system, those deemed to be “top citizens” are rewarded bonus points.

The benefits of being ranked on the higher end of the scale include waived deposits on hotels and rental cars, VIP treatment at airports, discounted loans, priority job applications and fast-tracking to the most prestigious universities.

Dandan, a young mother and marketing professional, is proud of her high score. If she keeps it up her infant son will be more likely to get into a top school.

“China likes to experiment in this creative way … I think people in every country want a stable and safe society,” she said.

“We need a social credit system. We hope we can help each other, love each other and help everyone to become prosperous.”

BOTTOM OF THE SCALE

But it doesn’t take much to end up on the wrong side of the scale with an estimated 10 million people are already paying the price of a low rating.

Jaywalking, late payments on bills or taxes, buying too much alcohol or speaking out against the government, each cost citizens points.

Other mooted punishable offences include spending too long playing video games, wasting money on frivolous purchases and posting on social media, according to Business Insider.

Penalties range from losing the right to travel by plane or train, social media account suspensions and being barred from government jobs.

Chinese journalist Liu Hu is one of millions who have already amassed a low social credit rating. Liu Hu was arrested, jailed and fined after he exposed official corruption.​

Sources:
https://www.news.com.au/technology/...e/news-story/6c821cbf15378ab0d3eeb3ec3dc98abf

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/china-social-credit

https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/27/opinions/china-social-credit-score-creemers/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuqbx8tyW1Y
 
Last edited:

KMFJD

Lifer
Aug 11, 2005
31,828
50,144
136

UglyCasanova

Lifer
Mar 25, 2001
19,275
1,361
126
This has been known for a while and yes it’s a very Orwellian concept. I think the party is setting themselves up for insurrection, as incomes and as a result education rises in China eventually people get sick of and rise up against the oppression. Who knows what the spark will be, but there will be one and it won’t end well.
 

FIVR

Diamond Member
Jun 1, 2016
3,753
911
106
China is the best. They will be new superpower, eclipsing the US in about 5 years. They are smarter, more discerning and far less politically compromised by "rural values" than Americans. The only real advantage we have is that Americans are much more willing to fail than the Chinese. With their huge population advantage and single party government they are now able to surpass us.


You better get used to China being number one. You can thank the Republicans for decades of funneling wealth to the rich while ignoring education, infrastructure and the middle class.


I, for one, welcome our new Chinese overlords. My new iPhone XS Max 512GB comes from China on monday, first 7nm computing device on earth.
 

Indus

Lifer
May 11, 2002
15,104
10,588
136
Got to be a troll post.

It sounds like one but it is not one.

Case in point.. escape America for a bit and think rural overseas. How bad is rural India vs say Mumbai? How bad is rural Israel vs say Tel Aviv? How bad is rural England vs say London?

The ways of thinking are vastly different but at least in those countries except Israel the rural areas don't think they're under assault by the big city culture. They think the cities are grossly overpriced, overpopulated but know their country cares for them and are going to help and try make their life better.

Unlike ours!
 

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
21,894
6,251
136
China is the best. They will be new superpower, eclipsing the US in about 5 years. They are smarter, more discerning and far less politically compromised by "rural values" than Americans. The only real advantage we have is that Americans are much more willing to fail than the Chinese. With their huge population advantage and single party government they are now able to surpass us.


You better get used to China being number one. You can thank the Republicans for decades of funneling wealth to the rich while ignoring education, infrastructure and the middle class.


I, for one, welcome our new Chinese overlords. My new iPhone XS Max 512GB comes from China on monday, first 7nm computing device on earth.
I hope you get exactly what you want, and the rest of us don't.
 

UglyCasanova

Lifer
Mar 25, 2001
19,275
1,361
126
It sounds like one but it is not one.

Case in point.. escape America for a bit and think rural overseas. How bad is rural India vs say Mumbai? How bad is rural Israel vs say Tel Aviv? How bad is rural England vs say London?

The ways of thinking are vastly different but at least in those countries except Israel the rural areas don't think they're under assault by the big city culture. They think the cities are grossly overpriced, overpopulated but know their country cares for them and are going to help and try make their life better.

Unlike ours!


Bruh you’ll find disdain from rural vs urban across the planet, it’s not some unique thing to the US. Look up rural UK attitudes toward London since you referenced it, I think you’ll find it very similar to attitudes held in the US.
 

NostaSeronx

Diamond Member
Sep 18, 2011
3,808
1,289
136
Tell me when it redistributes wealth.

Perfect in Poverty => More welfare cash
Perfect in Wealth => Less taxes
Poor in Poverty => To Gulag
Poor in Wealth => More taxes
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,316
20,023
146
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-n...it-will-require-customers-wear-health-n911461

John Hancock, one of the oldest and largest North American life insurers, will stop underwriting traditional life insurance and instead sell only interactive policies that track fitness and health data through wearable devices and smartphones, the company said on Wednesday.

yup

Meh, are they the only game in town? If yes, I see your point. If no, then it's not the same as China's government rating you.

The concept reminds me of that Black Mirror episode where citizens rated interactions with each other which attributed to many facets of their lives
 
  • Like
Reactions: KMFJD

cytg111

Lifer
Mar 17, 2008
25,503
15,025
136
Smart. That is one way of dealing with coming over over population and climate change.. Funny I dont see much socialism in this communism, maybe one of our "righters" can explain this to me.
 

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
21,894
6,251
136
Smart. That is one way of dealing with coming over over population and climate change.. Funny I dont see much socialism in this communism, maybe one of our "righters" can explain this to me.
The entire point of the system is to control the population, and this is an easier method than shooting people. The system gives government a great deal of control without having to be publicly brutal. It will be interesting to see how nonconformists are dealt with, they'll have to either be contained or disposed of. My guess is disposal will be the popular option, as it's a permanent solution.
 

cytg111

Lifer
Mar 17, 2008
25,503
15,025
136
The entire point of the system is to control the population, and this is an easier method than shooting people. The system gives government a great deal of control without having to be publicly brutal. It will be interesting to see how nonconformists are dealt with, they'll have to either be contained or disposed of. My guess is disposal will be the popular option, as it's a permanent solution.
Yes but I fail to see the socialism?
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
35,291
9,491
136
Yes but I fail to see the socialism?

Popular American vernacular is to proclaim anything government run as social(ist).
Apparently the same "crimes" do not count if a few corporate monopolies engage in similar practice.
 

UglyCasanova

Lifer
Mar 25, 2001
19,275
1,361
126
Whoever said it was socialism anyways, unless I missed something it seems like a straw man that cytg111 introduced to the thread for some reason.
 

cytg111

Lifer
Mar 17, 2008
25,503
15,025
136
Since it's been presented as a totalitarian measure I don't see where socialism enters the picture.

Whoever said it was socialism anyways, unless I missed something it seems like a straw man that cytg111 introduced to the thread for some reason.

Not a strawman at all, but yea I saw an opportunity to exemplify that communism is different from communism, and yea, totally unrelated to the topic at hand. We do have so members here that thinks the two is the same thing.
 

UglyCasanova

Lifer
Mar 25, 2001
19,275
1,361
126
It’s certainly a strawman in that you introduced something to argue against that no one in here was saying, and then even responded back as if he wasn’t addressing the issue, albeit an issue that had nothing to do with the topic and that you alone introduced:

Yes but I fail to see the socialism?


I’m definitely not a thread gestapo and enjoy conversations just going wherever they go so whatever, cheers. :beer:
 

cytg111

Lifer
Mar 17, 2008
25,503
15,025
136
It’s certainly a strawman in that you introduced something to argue against that no one in here was saying, and then even responded back as if he wasn’t addressing the issue, albeit an issue that had nothing to do with the topic and that you alone introduced:




I’m definitely not a thread gestapo and enjoy conversations just going wherever they go so whatever, cheers. :beer:

Being pedantic here, but strawman is used to prove a point, according to the topic at hand, by using an analogy that fits outside the spectrum. I dont think I did that. I went off topic, yes I did, but strawman? Thats a stretch.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,316
20,023
146
The ideas are often conflated by Republicans, and they beat that straw-man to death, stuff it back up, and have at it, stuff, repeat * infinity

That's all I'll comment on that.

Back to topic, I certainly don't agree with what China is doing. I don't think we're as close to that as some may think.

Health or Life insurers offering incentives or outright refusals based on how Americans choose to live is just the unfortunate side effect of unhealthy living.
 
  • Like
Reactions: cytg111

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
This has been known for a while and yes it’s a very Orwellian concept. I think the party is setting themselves up for insurrection, as incomes and as a result education rises in China eventually people get sick of and rise up against the oppression. Who knows what the spark will be, but there will be one and it won’t end well.
They've been sending teachers who've disagreed with the government to rural areas for years. I guess they missed the historical lesson that every single successful revolution has started from the grass roots.
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Back to topic, I certainly don't agree with what China is doing. I don't think we're as close to that as some may think.

Health or Life insurers offering incentives or outright refusals based on how Americans choose to live is just the unfortunate side effect of unhealthy living.
If rampant greed of insurance companies is included in "unhealthy living," I agree.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Josephus312