{"id":1709,"date":"2023-10-17T06:56:21","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T13:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/?p=1709"},"modified":"2025-01-09T17:19:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T01:19:07","slug":"in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/","title":{"rendered":"Is China\u2019s Social Credit System Really Orwell\u2019s Big Brother?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">China\u2019s social score system remains <strong>an issue veiled in mystery and rumor<\/strong>. In the absence of reliable information, notions of an all-seeing, all-judging Big Brother have set off alarm bells for human rights and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/stay-anonymous-online\">privacy<\/a> advocates around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Chinese social credit system has also been compared to Orwell\u2019s <em>1984 <\/em>and the <em>Black Mirror <\/em>episode <em>Nosedive, <\/em>in which citizens\u2019 opportunities hang on a disturbing social ranking system.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the comparisons may be exaggerated, they\u2019re not totally inaccurate. In this article, I\u2019ll <strong>demystify China\u2019s social credit system<\/strong> and tell you everything you need to know about what the Chinese social score system is and isn\u2019t. Let\u2019s <em>nose<\/em>dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you travel to China, you won\u2019t be able to access the regular internet. The Chinese government operates a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/great-firewall-china-chinese-government-orders-isps-block-personal-vpn-use-february-1st\/\">great firewall<\/a> to stop citizens from accessing unauthorized content. You need PIA, a reliable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/vpn-server\/china-vpn\">VPN for China<\/a>, to access the regular internet securely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=china_social_score\"><button class=\"bg-btn-1\"> Get PIA VPN<\/button><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #d5dde3; padding: 15px; border-radius: 10px; width: 500px;\">\n<h4>Table of Contents<\/h4>\n<a href=\"#what\">What Is China\u2019s Social Credit Score System?\n<\/a><br>\n<a href=\"#when\">When Was the Credit Score System Implemented?\n<\/a><br>\n<a href=\"#achieve\">What Does the Credit Score System Aim to Achieve?\n<\/a><br>\n<section style=\"text-indent: 15px;\"><a href=\"#system\">What China\u2019s Social Credit System Isn\u2019t \u2014 Yet\n<\/a><\/section>\n<section style=\"text-indent: 15px;\"><a href=\"#rongcheng\">RongCheng \u2014 The Prototype That Shocked the World\n<\/a><\/section>\n<a href=\"#how\">How Does China\u2019s Social Credit Score Work?\n<\/a><br>\n<section style=\"text-indent: 15px;\"><a href=\"#sharp\">The People Have Sharp Eyes\n<\/a><\/section>\n<a href=\"#private\">Private Sector Plays Along\n<\/a><br>\n<a href=\"#many\">How Many People Are Under the Social Credit System?<\/a><br>\n<a href=\"#west\">How Does the West Compare?<\/a><br>\n<a href=\"#carrot\">The Carrot &amp; the Stick <\/a><br>\n<a href=\"#faq\">FAQ<\/a><br>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what\"><strong>What Is China\u2019s Social Credit Score System?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">China\u2019s social credit score system is a <strong>government program assessing citizens on various aspects of their \u201cChengxin\u201d<\/strong><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong><strong>or \u201ctrustworthiness.\u201d<\/strong> In some places in China, people are rated on their social as well as financial behavior.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the financial and social aspects of China\u2019s scoring system are generally considered separate, non-financial activities can affect your financial standing and vice versa.<strong> Citizens\u2019 scores affect their credibility and ability to operate in society.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">China\u2019s score system doesn\u2019t concern individual citizens alone, it also deals with enterprises and government bodies. What\u2019s caused the greatest outcry, however, is how the system affects the privacy and basic human rights of ordinary citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Misdemeanors that impact a citizen\u2019s score include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Eating on trains<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Buying too many video games<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cheating on online video games<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spending \u201cfrivolously\u201d\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spreading rumors\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Posting \u201cfake news\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engaging in religious practices\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not visiting elderly parents frequently<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>People with higher social credit scores enjoy preferential treatment, business support, and better travel options.<\/strong> Those with lower social credit scores may have difficulty finding work, housing, or good schools for their children, and may be restricted from some forms of travel.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you consider that by UN standards, <strong>freedom to work and travel are universal human rights<\/strong>, it\u2019s easy to see why so many are critical of the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when\"><strong>When Was the Credit Score System Implemented?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Things are moving slower than China initially hoped. The CCP first announced its six-year plan to impose a social credit scoring program back in 2014. The plan was to get the system to nationwide coverage by 2020, but so far, It\u2019s running way off schedule. The first draft of the Social Credit Law only came out in November 2022, two years after it was supposed to be fully implemented.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"achieve\"><strong>What Does the Credit Score System Aim to Achieve?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chinese Communist Party (CCP) state media source, <em>Global Times <\/em>says \u201cChina\u2019s ongoing construction of the world\u2019s largest social credit system will help the country restore social trust.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The system aims to<strong> <\/strong>restore trust or \u201cChengxin\u201d and discourage \u201cuncivilized behavior\u201d in five key areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Financial creditworthiness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Judicial enforcement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Commercial trustworthiness\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Societal trustworthiness\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Government Integrity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/QOhnKYpJFrIcOAZuEVVs1KDU6dm3bZYmNxMhIpuw23NZF93onJS7cFGg6S01OBbZbCCbz7TdrfVh-KdtigjrBeGbrMUDSpjD1C9UCkYw1OClIb9h4Hi6YORaO9y7w5qzshIpOFFzuHPcAuXFwYa5Pdg\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:600px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Are services still \u201cpublic\u201d if not everyone can use them?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>People\u2019s Daily, <\/em>another state media outlet, states the aim of the system is to \u201cpromote honesty and deter dishonest behavior.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The methods used to achieve these goals are often extremely heavy-handed. By 2019, <strong>more than 17 million flights and five million train rides had been denied to people <\/strong>due to poor social credit. When you consider that their \u201ccrimes\u201d were things like eating on trains or bad driving, this feels very extreme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hong Kong\u2019s Alibaba-owned <em>South China Morning Post <\/em>notes that \u201cindividuals and companies deemed untrustworthy will also be publicly named and shamed\u201d and could suffer in terms of \u201ctravel prospects, employment, access to finance, and the ability to enter into contracts.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/UvtAuJMRH_RUFqKidic3tbbUpNfELVTHNsXMCLxUZvVfZNzO3sXKQ8RrdS0NABICNg3Zze-gXOhUQGIZjh8pWFa4KLIN-WJ2baIT-ZKi2x1paFVUyanQols2CTGjT7YtgXJBgejcD1taQg6uYtPt3no\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:500px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Imagine being denied a flight because you drove badly?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0<em>Those who lose credibility will find it hard to make a tiny step in society<\/em> \u2014 Premier Li Keqiang\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some critics also point out that terms like \u201csocietal trustworthiness\u201d and \u201cgovernment integrity\u201d may be kept intentionally vague to target individuals who pose a political threat.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">China has also recently updated its social credit system to include the use of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/the-latest-threat-to-privacy-cbdcs-central-bank-digital-currencies\/\">Central Bank Digital Currencies<\/a>. This makes it easier for the government to enforce penalties, fining people directly from their bank accounts or even freezing accounts. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cato.org\/blog\/chinas-digital-yuan-threat-freedom\">Cato Institute<\/a> has called the move a \u201cthreat to freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>China\u2019s social credit system is clearly stepping on people\u2019s rights<\/strong>, but is it the all-powerful algorithm we envision?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"system\"><strong>What China\u2019s Social Credit System <em>Isn\u2019t <\/em>\u2014 Yet<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People often wrongly portray China\u2019s social credit score system as some omnipotent AI apparatus automatically scoring citizens on their every behavior. The reality is it\u2019s more of a <strong>series of social credit experiments distributed across China<\/strong>. The systems differ between provinces and territories \u2014 some places haven\u2019t even implemented one yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/ptJqw3frfcnmP8QERvQtXenX7a0IKM9mgiItpXv89qMQoVdvjvYFdnB6m0Z109QhjpZIV_gmQT-k8h5lPaGmdqj7gl06d_F9F35LE1dIDOJq-sLSOxqH98YNuuR8cdEYmzKYPQnxme31gEeL_56LJkQ\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:600px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">China is still working on a country-wide\u00a0social credit score system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some small towns, the local council hires \u201cinvestigators\u201d to simply walk around to catch people misbehaving \u2014 pretty low-tech!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In more built-up areas like Beijing, facial recognition surveillance is already in use<\/strong>. China is world-leading in high-accuracy facial recognition cameras and is estimated to have one camera for every seven citizens. The government uses facial recognition cameras to catch and publicly shame people for misdemeanors as slight as jaywalking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words,<strong> the system is more fragmented, localized, and disorganized <\/strong>than it\u2019s been portrayed. So, why all the panic in the global press?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rongcheng\"><strong>RongCheng \u2014 The Prototype That Shocked the World<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2013, the Chinese city of Rongcheng made headlines experimenting with a social credit system that ranked citizens\u2019 social behavior with a number. <strong>Certain behaviors add to the score, while others subtract from it. <\/strong>An AAA rating brings with it an array of benefits, while a D rating results in a loss of privileges and even basic rights.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The local government defines the behaviors that are encouraged and those that are frowned upon. One worrying part of the outline<strong> urges citizens to report people \u201cparticipating in futile superstition or \u201ccult\u201d organizations.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clamping down on religious freedom is nothing new in China. According to Human Rights Watch, <strong>\u201cChina continues to violate the right to freedom of religion<\/strong>\u201d and \u201charsh prison sentences and violence against religious activists are still reported.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s also difficult to ignore the irony that the government\u2019s idea of \u201ctrustworthiness\u201d involves encouraging citizens to snitch on their neighbors to win favor from the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In RongCheng, punishments imposed on citizens whose score falls below an \u201cacceptable\u201d level include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reputation punishments like public naming and shaming\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reduced access to government benefits and support<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Higher routine scrutiny\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restrictions on participation in government projects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restrictions on attending regular business functions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restrictions on market entry or professional qualifications<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fortunately, Rongcheng\u2019s social credit system is not yet a countrywide phenomenon, but similar projects are taking shape.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how\"><strong>How Does China\u2019s Social Credit Score Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government aims to monitor and discipline society through<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Data collection and sharing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blocklists and ban lists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Punishments, sanctions, and rewards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Critics worry the system grossly infringes upon citizens\u2019 privacy and human rights<\/strong> and that it\u2019s an invasive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/unblock-websites-vpn\">censorship<\/a> tool. It also encourages citizens to turn on each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sharp\"><strong>The People Have Sharp Eyes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was Chairman Mao who first pointed out that \u201cthe people have sharp eyes.\u201d Today, China\u2019s Sharp Eyes Project is <strong>a nationwide system that relies on CCTV cameras, as well as citizens spying on their neighbors to keep law and order.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is how Senior Writer at OneZero, Dave Gershgorn described the Sharp Eyes Project:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThrough special TV boxes installed in their homes, local residents could watch live security footage and press a button to summon police if they saw anything amiss. The security footage could also be viewed on smartphones.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The project bears a striking resemblance to the surveillance state engendered by the Stasi government in East Germany \u2014 except this time keen-eyed neighbors are equipped with CCTV footage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"private\"><strong>Private Sector Plays Along<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not just the government that\u2019s invested in putting the system together \u2014 private firms are also getting involved. The fintech arm of <strong>Alibaba, for example, led the way with its private financial credit scoring and loyalty program, Sesame Credit.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sesame Credit relies on citizens\u2019 borrowing behavior and transaction history within Alibaba\u2019s platforms. As such, it\u2019s limited to analyzing data from its own platforms and is far from comprehensive. Even so, it represents an important precedent. If all companies decided to track consumers and pool information, it\u2019d be one step closer to the absolute surveillance China\u2019s going for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Online privacy is an issue everywhere in the world. Keep your data private with a VPN. Private Internet Access (PIA) has 10+ years of cybersecurity expertise and our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=china_social_score\"><strong>industry-leading VPN<\/strong><\/a> protects more than 15 million users worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=china_social_score\"><button class=\"bg-btn-1\"> Get PIA VPN<\/button><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"many\"><strong>How Many People Are Under the Social Credit System?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The questionable reliability of data coming from China makes it tough to estimate how many people are under a social score system. Restrictions on free reporting mean information sources are scarce and often contradictory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Data from the People\u2019s Bank of China indicated the system had incorporated 1.02 billion individuals and 28.34 million companies by 2019. In 2019, the Chinese government claimed <strong>13 million people had been deemed untrustworthy<\/strong>. This contrasts greatly with sources like MIT Technology Review which states the system is scattered and fragmented at best.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This inconsistency reflects the general issue of censorship and free reporting in China. It\u2019s hard to get reliable information when journalists and reporters are constantly penalized for speaking out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Share information freely \u2014 Use a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=china_social_score\"><strong>reliable VPN<\/strong><\/a> to encrypt your traffic and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/hide-my-ip-address\">mask your IP address<\/a>. PIA is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/vpn-features\/no-logs-vpn\">No Logs VPN<\/a> with advanced privacy settings that help you avoid online surveillance and protect your right to free speech.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=china_social_score\"><button class=\"bg-btn-1\"> Get PIA VPN<\/button><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"west\"><strong>How Does the West Compare?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While China appears to be leading the way when it comes to surveillance and social credit scores, the US, EU, and UK have plenty of privacy and censorship issues of their own. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/police-ai-mass-surveillance\/\">AI surveillance is growing in the US and the EU<\/a> and a slew of new laws is making it easier for Western governments to carry out mass surveillance on citizens.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/digital-services-act\/\">EU\u2019s Digital Services Act<\/a> focuses on removing \u201cillegal\u201d content and making it easy for netizens to report each other. The recently passed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/uk-government-retreats-from-plans-to-break-end-to-end-encryption\/\">UK\u2019s Online Safety Bill<\/a> allows the government to undermine end-to-end encryption to spy on citizens indiscriminately.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Governments around the world are also experimenting with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). These pose a serious threat to financial privacy and personal freedom. Unlike Bitcoin which is decentralized, <strong>CBDCs are an ultra-centralized form of currency<\/strong>. Your government would have full access to your financial history and resources, making you extremely easy to track and control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"carrot\"><strong>The Carrot &amp; the Stick\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">China\u2019s social credit system continues to evolve and frighten the world with its implications. Contrary to the all-seeing eye people envision, however, China\u2019s social credit system is still largely localized and applied piecemeal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even so, as technology continues to develop, the parts could come together into a frightening, inescapable whole. The AI-powered Big Brother may be just around the corner. Even so, the same can be said anywhere. Surveillance has become a real and present danger worldwide. It\u2019s easy to point the finger at China, it\u2019s harder to come to grips with changes closer to home.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the many laws recently introduced in the US, Europe, and the UK that threaten citizens\u2019 privacy, is the rest of the world really that far away from implementing its own version of China\u2019s social credit system?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\"><strong>FAQ<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1697509366535\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the social credit score in China?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">China\u2019s social credit score system is a government program to<strong> assess citizens on their \u201ctrustworthiness\u201d<\/strong> or \u201cChengxin.\u201d In some places in China, individuals are rated based on their financial creditworthiness and even social behavior. This score reflects their credibility and affects their ability to operate freely in society.\u00a0<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1697509376307\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do Chinese people have social credit scores?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"><strong>Some Chinese citizens living in China have social credit scores<\/strong>. However, not all Chinese citizens living in China are subject to this system, and it doesn\u2019t affect Chinese people living abroad.<br><br>Get the best <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=china_social_score\"><strong>China VPN<\/strong><\/a> \u2013<strong> <\/strong>Our easy-to-use app lets you change your IP to China in an instant. Get CyberGhost and be able to access your essential Chinese sites and services when traveling abroad.<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1697509391491\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do foreigners have social scores in China?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The Chinese government\u2019s <strong>social scoring system only concerns Chinese citizens<\/strong>. However, it affects businesses too. If you\u2019re doing business in China, speak to a local legal professional and local authorities for advice. Since rules differ between regions, information from the internet might not always be reliable.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>China&#8217;s social score system is a topic shrouded in rumor and speculation. In this article, we clear up some misconceptions and explain how China&#8217;s credit system really works.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":129,"featured_media":25408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[130],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-governments"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.9 (Yoast SEO v26.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>China\u2019s Social Score System Demystified | PIA VPN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"China&#039;s social score system is full of rumor and speculation. 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We clear up the misconceptions and explain how the credit system really works.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"PIA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/privateinternetaccess\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-10-17T13:56:21+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-10T01:19:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pasted-image-0-2.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1019\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"685\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Aaron Flynn\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@buyvpnservice\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@buyvpnservice\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Aaron Flynn\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Aaron Flynn\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/56fd4e29d36a1412b778b3f27a89a355\"},\"headline\":\"Is China\u2019s Social Credit System Really Orwell\u2019s Big Brother?\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-10-17T13:56:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-10T01:19:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/\"},\"wordCount\":2266,\"commentCount\":42,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pasted-image-0-2.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Governments\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/\",\"name\":\"China\u2019s Social Score System Demystified | PIA VPN\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/pasted-image-0-2.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-10-17T13:56:21+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-10T01:19:07+00:00\",\"description\":\"China's social score system is full of rumor and speculation. 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This score reflects their credibility and affects their ability to operate freely in society.\u00a0<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/#faq-question-1697509376307","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/#faq-question-1697509376307","name":"Do Chinese people have social credit scores?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<strong>Some Chinese citizens living in China have social credit scores<\/strong>. However, not all Chinese citizens living in China are subject to this system, and it doesn\u2019t affect Chinese people living abroad.<br\/><br\/>Get the best <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=china_social_score\"><strong>China VPN<\/strong><\/a> \u2013<strong> <\/strong>Our easy-to-use app lets you change your IP to China in an instant. Get CyberGhost and be able to access your essential Chinese sites and services when traveling abroad.<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/#faq-question-1697509391491","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/in-china-your-credit-score-is-now-affected-by-your-political-opinions-and-your-friends-political-opinions\/#faq-question-1697509391491","name":"Do foreigners have social scores in China?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Chinese government\u2019s <strong>social scoring system only concerns Chinese citizens<\/strong>. However, it affects businesses too. If you\u2019re doing business in China, speak to a local legal professional and local authorities for advice. Since rules differ between regions, information from the internet might not always be reliable.\u00a0","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/129"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1709"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26046,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1709\/revisions\/26046"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}