I recently came across a mind-blowing article – Leave no dark corner – written by Matthew Carney on ABC News. The article conveys China’s social credit system, which is planned to be implemented by 2020. The scoring system involves the combination of the latest high-tech surveillance system and a massive amount of data collected from traditional sources like government records, and other sources such as smartphones. Every aspect of life will be put into consideration: lifestyle, behaviours, relationship, or even purchases. The outcome of the calculation decides whether one receives privileges or punishment. The rewards can range from a waived deposit when hiring a car to an opportunity to land a better job. On the other hand, the consequences can range from a limited internet access to the inability to travel. The scheme is surprisingly similar to that in a ‘Black Mirror’s episode: Nosedive. Both materials address a possible scenario where a mean to measure human value is introduced. Personally, I am astonished by this system regarding how personal it can interfere in our lives. This credit can easily turn into a weapon for the government to manipulate the citizens simply by some adjustment in the scoring board. This article, in particular, interests me by insightful information through two examples of Dan Dan and Liu Hu, a precise style of writing, and its unique presentation. These factors enhance the article and make the content more compelling to the readers.
Nicole – strong writing and insightful comments. Super scary stuff…