China moves forward with social credit system to evaluate citizens

China is moving forward with the creation of a social credit system to evaluate its citizens with the publication of two new guidelines by the State Council, officials reported on Saturday.

Through this mechanism, the Chinese cabinet aims to create a large database with information on the finances of citizens as well as other areas including traffic history and payment of taxes, Efe news reported.

Government officials and doctors will be among the first professional groups to register their credit profiles under this system, which will be used to determine access to education and jobs or to approve the setting up of a company, among others.

It will also be obligatory to use real-name registration in the fields of internet, postal services, telecommunications and banking to speed up the creation of the system.

China will improve measures for protection of privacy and personal data, said the State Council, although it warned that any serious irregularities will be made public.

Although many countries have a credit rating system used primarily in the financial sector, experts and non-profits have expressed concern about the Communist regime's intention to widen its scope to keep records of the social and judicial activities of Chinese citizens.

A similar model will also be set up for governmental agencies which will record what officials buy, their debts and their participation in public-private partnerships.

--IANS

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