Social Credit or Sesame Credit

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:27 pm

i have never heard of this until about 15 minutes ago. Apparently China is implementing some sort of "Social Credit" rating system, kind of like a financial credit score we have here in the States. With a higher score you will receive perks that the lower socially accepted people would receive. It will be mandatory for everyone in China by 2020.

I came across this because Riot games (League of Legends) was bought out by Tencent, and this company is one of the biggest proponents of this Social Credit system. Watch this video and tell me what you think.

<span><object width="560" height="315">
<param name="movie" value=">
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param>
<embed src="" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>
</object></span>

Also, a good article about Social Credit on BBC.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:52 pm

By 2020, everyone in China will be enrolled in a vast national database that compiles fiscal and government information, including minor traffic violations, and distils it into a single number ranking each citizen.

Motherfuck that shit.

Users are encouraged to flaunt their good credit scores to friends, and even potential mates. China's biggest matchmaking service, Baihe, has teamed up with Sesame to promote clients with good credit scores, giving them prominent spots on the company's website.
...
A national database will merge a wide variety of information on every citizen, assessing whether taxes and traffic tickets have been paid, whether academic degrees have been rightly earned and even, it seems, whether females have been instructed to take birth control.

That shit is borderline scary.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:54 pm

Fucked up if true.

Post by **Leisher** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:58 pm

TPR had posted this video in the YouTube thread, but yeah, it deserves its own thread.

This is an absolute nightmare, but let's be honest, not too far from where we are in the U.S. right now. The only difference is the public currently "runs" the game, not our government. However, there's a lot of morons, on both sides of the aisle, who want the government to run the game.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:04 pm

I predict the group of people who would love that system the most: HR Directors. Nobody gets a job unless they have a high score.

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:06 pm

I don't know, I think this is a great idea? (+100) I think I can play this video game (-50) Oops, I mean.. Hooray for China for being the leader in social economy and making it easy for me to know how to behave!! (+200)

...buys Riot Points (+50)

*DING*

LEVEL UP!

Edited By Stranger on 1450379216

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:11 pm

but let's be honest, not too far from where we are in the U.S. right now.

You can find out a lot of info on someone in this country, but you have to dig for it. The system being pitched in Commie-ville is a gigantic warehouse of digital info connecting everything on everyone in a very public way. Shit, that's practically how it's being advertised. I'll also bet a billion dollars every party leader has a spotless score ... you know, until they get uppity and executed.

I predict the group of people who would love that system the most: HR Directors. Nobody gets a job unless they have a high score.

If this shit ever sees the light of day in the US, I predict I'll go black hat and make a living being the anti-Winston Smith.

Edited By Malcolm on 1450379584

Stranger · Post by **Stranger** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:18 pm

...Unfriends Malcolm on Facebook.

*DING*
*DING*

LEVEL UP!
LEVEL UP!

Post by **Leisher** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:27 pm

I meant if you speak up about anything remotely unpopular you have to apologize and lose your job. Or you get attacked and shamed until you submit to pressure that your opinion is wrong.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:33 pm

Stranger wrote:...Unfriends Malcolm on Facebook.

*DING*
*DING*

LEVEL UP!
LEVEL UP!

I'd have to be on that damned site first.

I meant if you speak up about anything remotely unpopular you have to apologize and lose your job. Or you get attacked and shamed until you submit to pressure that your opinion is wrong.

Social pressure has been used to control people's behaviour for some time now. The expectations, methods, details, and punishments might vary, but it's the same bullshit much like blackjack and Texas hold 'em are just a couple of the many forms of poker, card games, or gambling.

Edited By Malcolm on 1450381113

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:41 pm

Malcolm wrote:I'd have to be on that damned site first.

The example given in China says it will be MANDATORY to participate by 2020.

Post by **TPRJones** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:41 pm

I don't think there's a danger of that getting a foothold here in the U.S. Regardless of various changes in our national character over the past few decades, we're still a pretty rambunctious lot that wouldn't stand for that sort of thing.

It would have to be completely retooled as some sort of way to fight terrorism, and then it would be adopted by everyone overnight. Give up freedom to act like the government's lapdog? Not here in the U.S., no. Give up freedom for some pretend safety from terrorists? You betcha!

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:57 pm

It would have to be completely retooled as some sort of way to fight terrorism, and then it would be adopted by everyone overnight.

No chance of that.

Post by **GORDON** » Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:59 pm

I could see it pretty easily twisted into, "Well only a racist or gun nut or tea partier would not be using the app, so no, we're not hiring you."

Edited By GORDON on 1450444511