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I was just asked a question based on this recent social credit presentation, so thought I would answer it publicly as a brief threat, as it's been asked before. https://www.chinalawtranslate.com/en/asia-society-webcast-demystifying-chinas-social-credit-system/
The question is basically, "aren't' you ignoring/downplaying how the system could be 'weaponized' even though it isn't technologically sophisticated now?"
The short answer is this: One shouldn't ask whether social credit is something that can be weaponized, but what weapons it adds beyond the existing legal system.
Almost every conversation about social credit begins by addressing the idea that it is China's use of unrestricted access to data to manipulate its population in the same way facebook, twitter, and google manipulate their users. This simply isn't true.
This is why I always emphasize that it is a legal enforcement mechanism. It is rules for the 'collection and use of administrative law enforcement data'.
But I also know all too well what China's legal system is....
But I also know all too well what China's legal system is....
But if our problems are with China's laws the obsession with social credit is getting in our way of effectively criticizing those laws.
Here's the last slide from my Social Credit 101 presentation
Here's the last slide from my Social Credit 101 presentation
We know what China's law is-- if that's the problem, let's talk about that.
Advancing information tech is one of our era's biggest challenges- everywhere- why is it scarier when China does it? Let's talk about those problems.
Advancing information tech is one of our era's biggest challenges- everywhere- why is it scarier when China does it? Let's talk about those problems.
The bottom line is that Social Credit not just as it exists now, but as documents say it aspires to be, is largely a collection of law enforcement data.
All social credit punishments have to be authorized by existing laws.
All social credit punishments have to be authorized by existing laws.
Having a bad record won't get you locked up unless you committed a crime or violation that calls for detention.
At the same time, a corporation's good record can't guarantee your employees won't be arbitrarily detained if someone decides that's necessary.
Nothing new.
At the same time, a corporation's good record can't guarantee your employees won't be arbitrarily detained if someone decides that's necessary.
Nothing new.
There's a lot wrong with Chinese law, and there's a lot of people working to correct that, within the confines of a restrictive domestic political system.
Helping this work is great. Criticism is fine, as is condemnation when justified.
But there's no need to make stuff up.
Helping this work is great. Criticism is fine, as is condemnation when justified.
But there's no need to make stuff up.
Painting China as dystopian big Other has major drawbacks.
First, people who visit and see that it's relatively comfortable for most people, they often discount everything they've heard about China and become infatuated as it exceeds expectations. We call this marcopolo-itis.
First, people who visit and see that it's relatively comfortable for most people, they often discount everything they've heard about China and become infatuated as it exceeds expectations. We call this marcopolo-itis.
Second, it distracts us from China's real problems.
And finally, it creates an imaginary bogeyman that distracts us from and excuses creeping authoritarianism, government overreach, and other problems at home, because:
"At least we ain't China."
And finally, it creates an imaginary bogeyman that distracts us from and excuses creeping authoritarianism, government overreach, and other problems at home, because:
"At least we ain't China."
I've been saying all of the above for 4 years now. You can find all of my writing and public talking on social credit here, along with heaps and heaps of translated primary sources: https://www.chinalawtranslate.com/en/social-credit-articles/
