Disrupting the Chinese State: New Actors and New Factors

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rogier Creemers
Keyword(s):  
Data Gathering ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Credit System ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Private Companies ◽  
Digital Space ◽  
Social Credit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Chinese State ◽  
Party State

AbstractHow does digital technology influence the Chinese state? This paper focuses on two elements that are rapidly transforming the modus operandi of governance. First, it argues that a strategic public-private nexus is forming at the heart of the Party-state, as an increasing symbiosis is developing between the huge private companies that dominate the Chinese internet and the political sphere. Second, it explores how new data-gathering and -processing capabilities, including ‘big data’, enhance its governing capabilities. Particular attention is given to the social credit system. Unsurprisingly, China’s control-oriented government sees this as an attractive opportunity to enhance its ability to monitor the activities of citizens, businesses, and government officials. These two developments, from a central point of view, may counter some of the perennial problems plaguing the Chinese state, including centre-periphery fragmentation and stunted information flows between government actors. Nevertheless, existing pathologies will likely be reproduced in the digital space.

Datafication, dataveillance, and the social credit system as China’s new normal

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 952-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Seungeun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Personal Narratives ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Credit System ◽  
New Normal ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Credit Score ◽  
Social Credit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Chinese State

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to explore how China uses a social credit system as part of its “data-driven authoritarianism” policy; and second, to investigate how datafication, which is a method to legitimize data collection, and dataveillance, which is continuous surveillance through the use of data, offer the Chinese state a legitimate method of monitoring, surveilling and controlling citizens, businesses and society. Taken together, China’s social credit system is analyzed as an integrated tool for datafication, dataveillance and data-driven authoritarianism. Design/methodology/approach This study combines the personal narratives of 22 Chinese citizens with policy analyses, online discussions and media reports. The stories were collected using a scenario-based story completion method to understand the participants’ perceptions of the recently introduced social credit system in China. Findings China’s new social credit system, which turns both online and offline behaviors into a credit score through smartphone apps, creates a “new normal” way of life for Chinese citizens. This data-driven authoritarianism uses data and technology to enhance citizen surveillance. Interactions between individuals, technologies and information emerge from understanding the system as one that provides social goods, using technologies, and raising concerns of privacy, security and collectivity. An integrated critical perspective that incorporates the concepts of datafication and dataveillance enhances a general understanding of how data-driven authoritarianism develops through the social credit system. Originality/value This study builds upon an ongoing debate and an emerging body of literature on datafication, dataveillance and digital sociology while filling empirical gaps in the study of the global South. The Chinese social credit system has growing recognition and importance as both a governing tool and a part of everyday datafication and dataveillance processes. Thus, these phenomena necessitate discussion of its consequences for, and applications by, the Chinese state and businesses, as well as affected individuals’ efforts to adapt to the system.

scholarly journals Inclusion, Diversity, Equality in Non-Formal Education through the Optic of Youth and Youth Workers

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 94-108
Author(s):  
Martin Brestovanský ◽  
Janette Gubricová ◽  
Kristína Liberčanová ◽  
Naďa Bizová ◽  
Zuzana Geršicová
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Informal Education ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Youth Workers ◽  
Youth Organizations ◽  
The Social ◽  
Group Members

AbstractIntroduction: The aim of the study was to find out what is the understanding of relatively new terms coming into the cultures of Middle-European countries – inclusion, diversity, and equality (hereinafter referred to as IDE) – from the point of view of young people (n=30) and youth workers (n=16) in Slovakia.Methods: For data gathering, we used a method of focus groups (4 meetings). Data analysis was based on three criteria: consistency in understanding the terms, an overview of types of obstacles that keep young people from self-realisation and an explicit or implicit expression of understanding the basic principles of inclusion in education. The content of IDE terms was mostly from the area of the social field. The term diversity was closely explained in the psychological-personal fields.Results: The most frequent obstacles for applying IDE approaches were seen in the social, health and religious spheres. From the pedagogical and methodological point of view, the problem is also in the difficulty of preparing the projects based on the principles of IDE while the youth workers proclaim autonomy in solutions and do not trust the possibilities of using general methods because of specific need resulting from the specific context of their work. Also, they proclaim natural applying of the IDE principles and the existence of specific needs in the informal education does not represent any problem for the inclusion of the group members in the activities of the organisation.Limitations: Work with youth is very varied. Performs in different areas of life and also involves working with different groups of young people. The selected research sample consists of youth and youth workers who are only a partial sample of the sample. It is assumed that in a larger group of respondents (both youth workers and youths themselves), respondents' views may differ somewhat in some of the areas studied.Conclusions: This research provides information on understanding, implementation and obstacles to applying the principles of inclusion, equality and diversity in practice. We believe that the information we receive is very valuable as it opens the imaginative door to the specific kitchens of individual youth organizations where these principles are directly implemented. They show their nature of application in practice, they suggest some risks, as well as a certain bias towards the application of the terms emerging (probably?) from theory. As can be seen from the results of our research, the emergence of specific needs in non-formal education in practice does not pose a problem in the inclusion of group members in leisure activities.

scholarly journals Social Credit System in the People's Republic of China: normative legal framework and principles of functionality

2020 ◽  
pp. 18-53
Author(s):  
Roman Z. Rouvinsky ◽  
Tatiana Komarova
Keyword(s):  
Legal Framework ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
People’S Republic Of China ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
People's Republic Of China ◽  
Credit System ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
Social Credit ◽  
Legal Provisions ◽  
The Social

This article examines the normative legal framework and principles of functionality of the Social Credit System that is currently being implemented in the People's Republic of China. For the first time in legal science, the Social Credit System is viewed not as an organizational and regulatory technique that in one or another way is related to law, but rather as an independent legal institution relevant to the branch of administrative law. The application of formal-legal and comparative-legal methods allows describing the hierarchy of sources of the Chinese law pertaining to social credit mechanisms and procedures, as well as giving characteristics to major provisions of the corresponding normative acts. The peculiarities of legal regulation of the mechanisms and procedures that comprise the Social Credit System in PRC include the following aspects: sublegislative nature of such regulation, prevalence of joint lawmaking, focal role of normative legal acts of the Chinese government, declarative character and ambiguity of multiple legal provisions with regards to the Social Credit System. The author underline the specificity of interpretation of the normative legal acts of the People's Republic of China, usage by the lawmaking branches of moral categories in formulation of provisions for regulation of elaboration and implementation of the social credit mechanisms. The provisions of governmental and departmental normative legal acts pertaining to the Social Credit System are correlated with the provisions of the current Constitution of the People's Republic of China.

Human rights and biometric data. Social credit system

2020 ◽  
pp. 36-50
Author(s):  
Olga O. Bazina
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Data Protection ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Credit System ◽  
Biometric Data ◽  
General Data Protection Regulation ◽  
Social Credit ◽  
The Social

Biometrics, as a field of science, analyzes the physical and behavioral characteristics of people in order to identify their personality. A huge amount of technology in the field of biometric data collection is developed by IT giants like Google, Facebook, or Alibaba. The European Union (EU) took an important step towards biometric data confidentiality by developing a unified law on the protection of personal data (General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR). The main goal of this action is to return control over personal data to European citizens and at the same time simplify the regulatory legal basis for companies. While European countries and organisations are introducing the GDPR into force, China since 2016 has launched a social credit system as a pilot project. The Social Credit Score (SCS) is based on collecting the maximum amount of data about citizens and assessing the reliability of residents based on their financial, social and online behavior. Only critical opinions can be read about the social credit system in European literature, although the opinions of persons being under this system – Chinese citizens – are quite positive. In this context, we should not forget about the big difference in the mentality of Asians and Europeans. The aim of this article is to compare EU law and the legislation of the People's Republic of China regarding the use and storage of biometric data. On the basis of statistical data and materials analysed, key conclusions will be formulated, that will allow to indicate differences in the positions of state institutions and the attitude of citizens to the issue of personal data protection in China and the European Union.

The Fourth Internet: The Beijing Paternal Internet

2021 ◽  
pp. 125-144
Author(s):  
Kieron O’Hara
Keyword(s):  
Government Policy ◽  
Social Stability ◽  
Internet Governance ◽  
Credit System ◽  
Security Technology ◽  
Technology Infrastructure ◽  
Social Credit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Belt And Road

This chapter describes the Beijing Paternal Internet. The ideal consists of respect for public values. The exemplar is China, whose Confucian heritage values hierarchy and social stability. China’s Communist Party asserts legitimacy via its claimed technocratic efficiency, and aims to restore China’s position as a regional and global superpower; it is playing more of a role in global Internet governance. Much of the Chinese Internet is run by private-sector giants like Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu, but their activities have to align with government policy. The rule of law is weak, surveillance and censorship ubiquitous, and data-protection laws keep data about Chinese citizens available for government use. Citizens cooperate in monitoring, for example with the social credit system. The Belt and Road Initiative, a global technology infrastructure strategy, helps export Chinese ideas, including surveillance and security technology. Many governments other than China’s have paternal intentions for the Internet.

Social mobility will fall for China’s disadvantaged

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Mobility ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Credit System ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Credit ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
High Level

Subject Social mobility in China. Significance So far, the Communist Party leadership has only addressed the most extreme manifestations of inequality -- high-level corruption and rural poverty. It has not tackled a wide range of social, economic and institutional barriers to social mobility that affect hundreds of millions of people across the country. Impacts Members of China’s middle class are already approaching the limits of their upward mobility. The social credit system could evolve in a way that exacerbates the divide between the economically advantaged and disadvantaged. The campaign to eliminate absolute poverty will do little to address the problem of relative poverty in urban areas.

scholarly journals State Control by Stealth in the Big Data Era – From WeChat to the Social Credit System in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 88-109
Author(s):  
Grace Li
Keyword(s):  
Legal Framework ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Credit System ◽  
Social Credit ◽  
Privacy Laws ◽  
Legal Perspective ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Social ◽  
Potential Abuse

This paper begins with a brief study on the development of the Chinese all-in-one app, WeChat, explaining how WeChat secured its popularity as the multi-functional ubiquitous mobile app in China. By using WeChat as an example, this paper further studies how the Social Credit System (SCS) in China was established out of collaboration between the Chinese government and eight entrusted private companies. This paper then analyses and evaluates the SCS from a socio-legal perspective, focusing on two key implications: the opaque algorithms and the potential abuse of power. The paper argues that the SCS needs to first gain trust from Chinese citizens. A starting point would be immediate action to standardise and reduce the opacity of the prototype. To enhance the longevity and effectiveness of the SCS, developing a legal framework to prohibit potential information misuse by the State and the entrusted companies is crucial: it needs to be put in place sooner rather than later. In constructing the much-needed legal framework, developing privacy laws is certainly a core step, but the framework needs more than just privacy laws. One crucial safeguard is the requirement for an independent tribunal or ombudsman to deal with credit-related complaints fairly and efficiently.  

The social credit system in China: a model of constitutionalism for the era of crises

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 63-85
Author(s):  
Roman Ruvinskiy
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
State Power ◽  
Constitutional Rights ◽  
Political Subjectivity ◽  
Credit System ◽  
Republic Of China ◽  
Social Credit ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Social ◽  
State Of Affairs

This paper focuses on the probable transformative effects of the application of the Chinese Social Credit System and similar projects in the realm of public administration on constitutional rights and freedoms, balances in citizen-state relations, and the model of statehood. The starting point of the research is the assumption that the Social Credit System, despite its specifically national Chinese peculiarities, can be seen as a reflection of a broader tendency towards the use of reputational information, techniques of ranking (grading) and risk management in the process of exercising the state power. To test this hypothesis, the author analyzes the actual experience of the Social Credit System’s introduction in the People’s Republic of China, compares this project with e-government projects, and proposes the umbrella-term of “social-credit mechanisms” to describe procedures and means of social control, based on the permanent collection and analysis of reputation data relating to persons. It is argued in this paper that the introduction of social-credit mechanisms to the practice of public administration ultimately leads to the emergence of a gap between formally enshrined rights and the actual ability to exercise them, between the legal capacity of a person and the ability to realise this capacity in certain legal relations. Examining the prospects of introduction of reputation-based social-credit mechanisms to the public administration, the author notices the probability of discrimination against persons who took a false step. As is demonstrated in the paper, the use of reputation data and social ratings by state authorities may result in the gradual differentiation in quality and scope of public services depending on social ratings (grades) of their addressees. This state of affairs may signify the birth of a new caste society and the end of the principle of equality before the law. According to the conclusions made in the paper, projects akin the Chinese Social Credit System reflect the global tendency towards the formation of a new type of constitutionalism. In the framework of this new constitutionalism the main emphasis will be shifted from citizens’ democratic participation in the execution of state power and the citizenry’s political subjectivity to ensure public safety and social stability. The issue of social-credit mechanisms’ introduction to the process of public administration is de facto an issue between the values of freedom and the values of security — the issue of choosing between political subjectivity and guaranteed biological existence.

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