China’s social credit system is less than it seems

Subject

China's social credit system.

Significance

The social credit system is often seen as the sharp end of China’s techno-authoritarianism. It has received considerable media attention in the West, where it shapes perceptions of China’s direction. However, it is more complex than at first sight.

Impacts

• Differences between the social credit approaches of different localities will create compliance issues for foreign businesses.
• Social credit will likely remain confined to business and administrative law enforcement; police and state security will remain separate.
• Party leaders might wish for a single totalitarian system for enforcing political loyalty, but that is unfeasible in practice.