China scores each citizen to screen out 'weak citizens'

The Chinese government will roll out a citizen reputation scoring system in 2020.

All traffic violations will be counted towards the reputation score of each Chinese citizen. Photo: AP

Based on the assessment score, the system will screen out "weak citizens", AFR Weekend reported.

Several Chinese cities, including Shanghai and Hangzhou, have implemented electronic systems to assess citizens’ attitudes and behavior on the road. Traffic violations such as running red lights, overloading vehicles, or driving without a license will be counted toward each citizen’s reputation score.

Ms. Chen Li in Hangzhou city, who skipped buying train tickets for her child, not only had to pay a fine but also had her score lowered in the "citizen credit rating system." The lowered score will make it harder for Ms. Chen to borrow money from the bank or find a job in the future, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Aimed at "encouraging trust (in society)", the system, which scores people based on their moral, social and financial performance, will collect information such as education and occupation, and will also track individuals' online activities from computers and smartphones.

“People who play video games 10 hours a day are considered lazy; or based on how often a person buys diapers for their children, they can know that they are a parent, who is considered to behave responsibly,” Li Yingyun, chief technology officer of Alibaba’s personal reputation scoring program, told Caixin magazine.

“The government believes that the credit scoring system is a panacea that makes people more law-abiding,” said Li Zhaohui, a researcher at the Academy of Social Sciences in Shenzhen.

Although the Chinese government believes the system will help improve social order through increased surveillance by state agencies, many fear that the collection of personal information will limit citizens' freedoms.

According to VNE