Electronic surveillance

China's chilling plan to use social credit ratings to keep score on its citizens

At the core of China's Internet agenda lies the so-called "social credit system".

This system, which is currently in the planning phase, seeks to leverage the explosion in personal data generated through smartphones, apps and online transactions in order to improve citizens' behaviour.

According to a planning document published by the State Council last year, its objective is to improve "sincerity" in government affairs, commerce and social interactions.

The principle is simple:

Individuals and businesses will be scored on various aspects of their conduct -- where you go, what you buy and who you know -- and these scores will be integrated within a comprehensive database that not only links into government information, but also to data collected by private businesses.