A future social credit system raises concerns over individual security and freedom

Business & Technology

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 โ€œthat 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 โ€œpenalize 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 โ€œhas 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.