What are the Chinese up to, anyway? Perceived advantages and disadvantages of the Chinese Social Credit System in foreign media.

Abstract

The overall purpose of my research was to give an overview of the discourse happening in foreign media about the Social Credit System. The study starts with an introduction of what the credit system is and how it´s structured. It then goes looks at the portrayed disadvantages and advantages, with the special focus on how the foreign media have been commenting on this topic. The major findings were that the negative portrayal mostly focused around the negative impact of surveillance technology and its impact on people’s privacy, and the way the Chinese Communist Party might use it to enforce their political agenda, both inside the country, with punishing people for not complying with regulations, and outside of it, forcing restrictions on foreign companies that won´t comply with the Chinese governments requirements. The main advantages were found to be the role the SCS will potentially play in aiding in Chinas law enforcement and social management, through its systematic encouragement of morally good behaviour, and the role it might play in restoring trustworthiness in the Chinese society. The study then goes on to discuss the findings: the fear amongst foreign media as to how the SCS will be used, particularly in respect to citizens privacy and potential abuse for political the CCPs political agenda, along with other media expectant curiosity as to how this both specialized and comprehensive initiative could be used to solve the unique problems the Chinese society is facing.