China’s Social Credit System Affects Chinese People’s Ability to Travel, Eat and Date

China is taking their rules to the next level: this time, it is working to limit people from using transportation like airplanes and travel in different places if they have bad social credit. According to Reuters, people will be put on the restricted list if they are found to commit acts such as spreading false information regarding terrorism or causing troubles on flights. Those who are using expired tickets or smoking on trains will also be reprimanded.

President Xi JinPing’s Social Credit System is the leader’s start to rule the country for life, after the two-term limit has been abolished. This system will be rolled out by 2020, making the country’s 1.3 billion people be subjected to a score based on their trustworthiness.

Different Credit System

However, unlike the western credit rating’s purely financial rating, China’s Social Credit System will be different.

According to the government, its mission is to build a harmonious socialist society by rewarding the citizens with good behavior and punish a person or a company that falls short. With this system, the authorities will consider every aspect of the life of the citizens. This includes data from the country’s social insurance database as well as their criminal records system.

Scope of the System

A person’s online shopping habit will also be traced. If you are spending too much on items that deemed lazy like video games, your social score will decrease. The government will also look at your bills, your student records, whether you visit your parents enough, and if you were caught jaywalking.

Government officials will also follow your social media accounts to look out for any forms of dissent.

In Shanghai alone, honking is banned to reduce noise pollution in the city. Those who will be caught beeping will have their license plate number appear on an electronic billboard. They will also be forced to pay a fine. This will also go on their record, even if they honked just to avoid an accident.

Perks for Chinese People

If it looks too much for people from other countries, people from China accept the monitoring and welcome the new rating. For many Chinese, the social order and safety that could come from the rating system outweigh their privacy which could be taken away. Plus, those with high social scores will get additional perks from the government.

Trustworthy people could get gym memberships, special discounts in stores, and shorter wait times in the hospitals. Citizens can also increase their scores by doing good deeds like recycling and giving blood to the blood bank.

However, if you have low scores, you won’t be able to take out a loan, travel to another country, send your kids to good school, eat in good restaurants, and get matches on different dating websites.

Which do you think is better: a credit system or a social credit system? Let us know in the comments section below!