An episode of the sci-fi series, Black Mirror, is becoming a reality with China’s new social credit system. Although not fully operational yet, this article will show you a vision of China’s Dystopian Future – The World’s 1st Digital Dictatorship.
China has been long known for being a surveillance state, now in this ancient mysterious land, big brother meets big data. In almost every city across the country, cameras and spyware have been installed, mapping your digital footprint to every step you take. What you do, say and even think is being monitored and marked against you.
On June 14, 2014, China’s State Council published a planning outline for the construction of a social credit system (2014-2020):
“A social credit system is an important component part of the Socialist market economy system… It is founded on laws, regulations, standards and charters. It is based on a complete network covering the credit records of members of society and credit infrastructure.”
We can assume the Chinese Communist Party is trying to pursue a softer, less or more invisible authoritarianism. The term social credit, a personal scorecard for 1,4 billion citizens, has nothing to do with credit; it has everything to do with control. Though still in the stage of a pilot program, by the year 2020, China’s citizen score will become mandatory. Implementing algorithms to big data, the Chinese government seeks to tighten its control over the people. Affecting their abilities to obtain bank loans, get a job, travel abroad and even getting their children admitted to good schools, based on the way the government deems their behavior.
“Amazon’s consumer tracking with an Orwellian political twist”– Johan Lagerkvist, a Chinese internet specialist at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs
China is positioning itself to lead the world in Artificial Intelligence. Surveillance technology is a key proving ground; facial recognition, body scanning and geo-tracking matched with your personal data and online behavior will power the social credit system leaving no dark corner to hide in. Several of the Chinese corporations including tech giant Ali Baba, are now working with the state to write the algorithms that will calculate the social credit score. They already have the data from their financial credit system AliPay. Once a person has a score, all their credit behavior in life is recorded and can be evaluated by that number.
“Our goal is to ensure that if people keep their promises, they can go anywhere in the world, and if people break their promises, they won’t be able to move an inch” – Jie Cong, Tianjin General Manager, financial credit system Alipay
It is the 21st century, we would think we are accustomed to handing out our data to corporations. Credit card companies know what you are drinking a Tuesday night or when you subscribe to Pornhub Premium. Facebook knows if like Buzzfeed Quizzes or Tasty videos. We are constantly rating people on Uber or Airbnb. All this information is being collected all the time, but it’s never being used against us. As in China, you may get in trouble even for the friends you keep.
Shopping habits are another measure, a score could even change in real time depending on what you put in your cart. Buy a lot of alcohol or antidepressants and lose a couple of points, buy a couple of cleaning products or some baby wipes and you gain a few. Who you date and ultimately partner with will also affect your social credit. Marry for love but also choose the right person, possibly one with a high score. Sounds dramatic right? The Social Credit System is already on the way and by 2020, the official outline will allow the trustworthy to run freely under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step.
“Nothing that he does is indifferent. His friendships, his relaxations, his behavior towards his wife and children, the expression of his face when he is alone, the words he mutters in sleep, even the characteristic movements of his body, are all jealously scrutinized. Not only any actual misdemeanor, but any eccentricity, however small, any change of habits, any nervous mannerism that could possibly be the symptom of an inner struggle, is certain to be detected. He has no freedom of choice in any direction whatever.” – George Orwell, 1984
Resourses:
“Planning Outline for the Construction of a Social Credit System (2014-2020)”
Planning Outline for the Construction of a Social Credit System (2014-2020)
https://www.gaia.com/article/chinese-citizen-score
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-18/china-social-credit-a-model-citizen-in-a-digital-dictatorship/10200278
https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/china-rates-its-own-citizens-including-online-behaviour~b4c0ae0e/
While reading this post a few different thought have crossed my mind.
1. Even if somebody is compliant with all the rules, what is the warranty that the programme will not make a mistake and will not be manipulated by an individual in power who does not like you? Also following the implementation of this technology soon enough Chinese citizens will have to face the reality of computers put there instead of judges. On one hand they should more objective, but on the other, it is so easy to manipulate the code or to just write it incorrectly for one case scenario, which in Chinese judicial system might mean capital punishment.
2. This article is treating only about the bad sites this technology has, but think about the lack of regular forms of terrorism, such as bombing. Maybe the nutritional behaviours of citizens will be influenced positively if their healthy cuisine is scored highly. Maybe society will get rid off cigarettes and alcohol, at least to some extent.
3. At which point of the social/economical/political hierarchy do we stop recording people, I do not believe the president is going to be monitored and scored and who is controlling the supervisor of the whole Big Brother China project?
4. How do we deal with people who are travelling abroad, what happens to their score when they are not in China?
5. Do we also rate the tourists? Is a tourist coming from US coming with a higher score than a tourist from Gambia? Or would it depend on the income and the currency exchange rate?
It seems to me like a very complicated solution, which obviously has a dark site to it, but also some positives might be brought, and definitely there are doubtful areas there as well.