China's Social Credit System

[Yazata]

In China, everybody has an official score. It's right there on your cell phone.

You gain points for a whole variety of pro-social behaviors. These include volunteer work, helping the poor and the elderly, paying all your bills on time, or performing a heroic act. You also gain points for praising the government.

You lose points for traffic offenses (even jaywalking), for crimes, for not caring for elderly relatives or for not paying bills. They track all your purchases and you lose points for things like buying alcohol. You also lose points for criticizing the government, for illegal demonstrations, for joining a "cult" (in China only government approved/controlled religious groups are legal, all others are "cults").

Having a high social credit score improves eligibility for elite schools and universities, improves priority for housing, reduces waits at hospitals and medical clinics, means lower fares on public transit, lower taxes and is required for job promotions.

Having a low score means denial of licenses, permits and social services. It can make it impossible to buy an airline or a train ticket. You become ineligible for public employment. Your face might be on posters and billboards for public shaming. In the worst cases your ATM card stops working. What's more, Chinese cell phones have special government ring-tones to alert anyone you call that the call is coming from a low-score person and that they risk losing points by taking your call.

Don't be surprised if something like this rolls out in the United States too. It's coming, though it will be gradual, like boiling a frog by very slowly turning up the heat. We saw its beginning with COVID "passports". Its imposition will likely be justified by the alleged need to combat "disinformation" (whatever they disagree with) and "hate" (dislike for them or their agendas).

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