China's social credit system (SCS) is an ambitious initiative that started in 

, to build a database that monitors individual, corporate, and government behavior across the country. 

And for some reason, the video surveillance network 

, like the Artificial Intelligence that leads the machine army in the movie 

It was first thought of over 20 years ago in Peking University’s China Credit Research Center, with regional pilots launching in 2009 and a national pilot launching in 2014. 

It was rolled out nationwide in 2020. Now, Chinese citizens have a social credit score based on their deeds. SCS comprises three interconnected components: A master database, a blacklisting system, and a punishment and rewards mechanism.

Like personal financial credit scores, a person's social scores can move up and down according to their behavior. The exact algorithms and their methodology are kept secret, but examples of breaches 

: impaired driving, smoking in non-smoking zones, buying too many video games, not visiting your grandparents enough as a child, cheating in video games, making reservations and not showing up 

), eating or listening to loud music in pubic transit or posting fake news online.

On the other hand, complying with the rules, or doing good deeds such as donating blood, can boost your score. 

A good rating could offer priority health care or deposit-free renting of public housing. In contrast, a negative rating could get individuals banned from flights and trains or from joining A-list educational institutions, for example.

The western media have given the Chinese social credit system an unequivocally negative reception. Still, many ordinary Chinese people perceive and accept the system differently. Most of them seem to 

 by fighting fraud and crime, while rewarding those who build & improve their society. It has also been said that western media has smeared the SCS, which is not very different from a financial credit score database with criminal records and other important data. 

 this shortly after the implementation of the system: 

"I feel like in the past six months, people's behavior has gotten better and better. For example, when we drive, now we always stop in front of crosswalks. If you don't stop, you will lose your points. At first, we just worried about losing points, but now we got used to it."

I am not too sure how to feel about this. Am I supposed to hate it? Am I being brainwashed to hate it? Is there supposed to be a system that fits all cultures, governments and societies? 

Maybe there isn't. Maybe China is doing fine will the American Empire looses its power and dominating position. Or maybe this is the beginning of a slippery slope that leads us to a dystopian future. 

Do you think that the SCS would compel citizens to improve their morals and civic sense? Or is it a way for more control? 

Would you happily accept it if your country implemented it? Is the media making China a villain when the US already has a credit score or the UK has more cameras in London than citizens?

China's Social Credit Score: Something out of Black Mirror or is Western Media exaggerating?

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