The consequences of a bad social credit score from China can literally ruin your life

Image source: Pixabay

The People's Republic of China, the world's largest communist nation, has been instituting (since 2012) a "social credit system" that punishes people who exhibit unsavory behavior.

Citizens who buy too many video games, posts unflattering content on social media or anyone who's caught smoking on a train will suffer grave consequences that restrict ones ability to flourish in the nation.

Advanced AI-enabled cameras, like the ones developed by Chinese tech firm SenseTime, are setup at intersections and other public areas to track and identify people exhibiting poor social behavior.

The punishments range from restricted travel via denied airline booking, limited job opportunities, decreased internet speeds and humiliation as offenders are publicly announced.

"This is no anodyne credit score. By rating citizens on a range of behaviors from shopping habits to online speech, the government intends to manufacture a problem-free society."
Human Rights Watch

I'm all for credit scores and how they judge the creditworthiness of a consumer. I believe people who are financially responsible should be rewarded with lower interest, better credit card offers and affordable financing options. But this clearly is an example of an unchecked governmental system gone wild.

You can read more at BusinessInsider.