I am quiet confused what to even think about it…I am surprised I missed the information completely until I was told about it by my friend. I thought ‘he must have misunderstood the article’…
Here we go.. I accept that the video contains much of interpretation than pure information, also as with any ‘Chinese’ stories(to some extend as with all the North Korean ones) there is the element of (mis)translation and media’s sensationalism. On the other hand..it somehow hasn’t made to headlines…not like some other stuff
We have been recently fed all the news about new china child policy- the very sign of normalisation even if introduced to answer the catastrophic demographic situation. Since March it goes further- the two kids policy begin.. Good sign isn’t it?
The Sesame Credit system ranks each citizen’s trustworthiness based on a variety of financial and social factors- in short it pulls all available data out and assigns scores.The kind of purchases you make online, the entertainment you enjoy…up to friends and their ‘quality’. Yes, the quality/trustworthiness of your buddies will influence your ability to e.g. get mortgage in bank.
Looks like a game right? the point is THIS IS ABOUT EVERYDAY LIFE OF CHINESE PEOPLE. You are gonna think 59579589585 times who you invite on social network but what if this is you sister who lowers your score (option available)?
It sounds like a nightmare to me but isn’t this- pretty brilliant strategy of enforcing state obedience…Looking at China I can understand the logic (not to mess with accept/agree) but this is super modern authoritarianism using the power of all technological achievements, the same which facilitated Arab Spring… the same which force governments to be more transparent…and foremost- it deprives of the freedom to make basic choices, force you to assign value to people around you.
Not really the way to get China democratised… hasn’t been much on this path but this is, if true, a huge U turn.
some articles about it:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-has-made-obedience-to-the-state-a-game-a6783841.html
http://www.theweek.co.uk/66274/concerns-grow-over-chinas-nightmarish-social-credit-score-system
Happy New Year!!
dominiqueeblog 