Boundaries of Social Credit

Since early 2019, provinces including Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shaanxi as well as municipalities such as Beijing and Shenzhen have released regulations on their social credit systems. Since early 2020 when the coronavirus broke out, some local governments deemed that people who did not wear masks in public places or who left their residential community without a permit were committing a dishonest act. The rapidly expanding scope of the social credit system has generated widespread public concern. Experts cautioned that public awareness is necessary, and it is urgent to specify the boundaries of the social credit system and inform the public what is allowed and what is prohibited after wide solicitation of public opinions. Central authorities should also standardize the laws and regulations concerning the social credit system.