A future social credit system raises concerns over individual security and freedom
Top business and technology news for January 25, 2017. Part of the daily The China Projectย news roundup "A boost for family doctors, and missiles speculation."

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Cashless society, cached data: Security considerations for a Chinese social credit systemย / Citizen Lab
The Chinese government is testing a national social credit system โthat draws upon citizensโ personal data to assign unofficial credit scores.โ It is partly based on data provided by private companies such as Sesame Credit, a company established by Alibaba affiliate Ant Financial, and government bureaus. Citizen Labย voices concerns that social credit and mobile finance access might be blocked to โpenalize citizens for acts of protest.โ -
Why China keeps bailing out ailing heavy industriesย / SCMP
As total debt owned by companies and households in China is estimated to amount to 250 percent of annual economic output, the country is torn between saving state-owned companies to ensure their dominance in the economy and letting free-market competition eliminate underperforming companies. China โhas pledged to clear up debt and get banks to finance productive activity instead of subsidizing state companies,โ but the government has ruled out allowing any state companies to go bankrupt.
- Chinaโs tech hub stocks are being left behind by its new economyย / Bloomberg
- China phonemakers are taking over worldโs fastest-growing market โ Indiaย / Bloomberg
- China power giant gobbling up foreign playersย / Nikkei Asian Review
- The reasons why itโs gotten so tough โ and expensive โ to hail a ride in Chinaย / Quartz