Gamifying China

I've always had an issue with gamification even used in applications of teaching. One of the scariest I've read about that no one seems to be talking about is China trying to gamify life for its citizens. There are some people who are genuinely excited about this idea because it's new and sounds fun; those people tend to think they will benefit from this new system. Think this as credit score for people's lives. Little is known about how China is going implement their system (to be done in 2020) but it is already scary.

This link is China's current plans in construction their social credit system (I admit it is a long read). As you can see, much of this system will judge sincerity. Currently, there are not specific details on how China will actually implement this system or where the country's government will get its information.

"Social sincerity is the basis for building the social credit system, only if there is mutual sincere treatment between members of society, and only if sincerity is fundamental, will it be possible to create harmonious and amicable interpersonal relationships, will it be possible to stimulate the progress of society and civilization, and realize social harmony, stability and a long period of peace and order."

This system will no doubt be used for fear and oppression. Citizen's social credit scores in this system could eventually be based on anything the government can collect, including, but certainly not limited, to what you post to social media and who you associate with. Yes, the people that you associate with could possibly bring down your score. Yes, your views that oppose the government will most likely be used to decrease your citizen score.

"Credit construction among natural persons. Give prominence to the fundamental role of natural persons’ credit construction in the construction of a social credit system, with the support of national population information resource databases, establish and perfect credit records for natural persons in economic and social life, and realize that natural persons’ credit records are completely covered on a nationwide scale. Strengthen professional credit construction among focus groups, establish personal credit records among public servants, enterprises’ legal representatives, lawyers, accounting employees, registered accountants, statists employees, registered tax advisors, auditors, evaluators, authentication, monitoring and survey employees, securities and futures employees, high-level managers in publicly traded companies, insurance brokers, medical personnel, teachers, scientific research personnel, patent service employees, project managers, news and media employees, tourist guides, professional veterinarians and other such persons, and record their credit ranking. broaden the use of professional credit reports, and guide toe construction of professional ethics and behavioural norms.

Credit construction in the area of Internet applications and services. Forcefully move forward the construction of online sincerity, foster ideas of running the Internet according to the law and using the Internet in a sincere manner, progressively implement the online real-name system, perfect legal guarantees for the construction of online credit, forcefully move forward the construction of online credit supervision and management mechanisms. Establish online credit evaluation systems, evaluate the credit of the operational behaviour of Internet enterprises and the online behaviour of netizens, and record their credit rank. Establish network credit files covering Internet enterprises and individual netizens, vigorously move forward with the establishment of exchange and sharing mechanisms for online credit information and corresponding credit information in other areas, forcefully promote the broad application of online credit information in various areas of society. Establish online credit black list systems, list enterprises and individuals engaging in online swindles, rumourmongering, infringement of other persons’ lawful rights and interests and other grave acts of breaking trust online onto black lists, adopt measures against subjects listed on black lists including limitation of online conduct and barring sectoral access, and report them to corresponding departments for publication and exposure."

This is horrifying.