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Phoebe Zhang

China's social credit scheme is expanding to punish those involved in social security fraud and is also considering rewarding blood donors.
Under the programme – which is designed to incentivise good behaviour and punish bad behaviour – individuals and companies caught breaking the law will now risk further penalties beyond any fines or prison terms that courts might impose.
The measures announced on Wednesday by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security would target companies that fail to register employees for benefits such as medical insurance or pensions, as well as people who commit fraud to obtain benefits.
Offenders now face being added to an online credit blacklist for one to three years.




Earlier this month the National Health Commission said it was asking local governments to consider ways to use the social credit system to encourage blood donations.
The document suggest possible benefits such as preferential treatment when using public services and parks, or holding ceremonies to honour donors.
“We need to show we care about [donors] so they feel honoured,” Liu Jiang, director of Beijing's blood donation office, told state broadcaster CCTV.
Selling blood is now illegal after the practice was linked to a string of contamination scandals, including a major outbreak in the 1990s in Henan province, where tens of thousands of people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C.
China’s social credit system for business creates new and complex headaches for EU trade officials
The official blueprint for the social credit system, which is supposed to come into effect next year, said it would “allow the trustworthy to benefit wherever they go while making it difficult for the discredited to take a single step”.
Selected cities have already become test beds for programmes that encourage businesses and individuals to comply with existing rules.
Last year, about 17.46 million “discredited” people were restricted from buying plane tickets and 5.47 million were restricted from purchasing high-speed train tickets, according to the 2018 annual report released by the National Public Credit Information Centre.




However, as it expanded, the system has prompted concerns about the possible invasion of privacy involved in policing a wide range of behaviours, while critics have questioned whether it is appropriate to penalise people for minor infractions.
In September, the northwestern city of Xian announced that residents who refuse to sort rubbish will be penalised by the social credit system, while the southern tech hub of Shenzhen announced in November that individuals caught fare dodging on the subway three times in one year will be given a black mark on their social credit score.
‘Bigger incentives will mean bigger public buy-in’ for China’s social credit schemes
The announcement of plans to incentivise blood donations received a mixed reaction on social media, with some people questioning whether it was necessary to include everything in the system. Others asked whether it was appropriate to reward this behaviour because some people could not donate for health reasons.
“Blood donations should be voluntary, it has nothing to do with social credit,” said one Weibo user.
Another argued: “Even if it's a reward for the donors, in comparison, it's the same as punishing those who did not donate.”


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China's social credit system

China’s social credit system expands to target social security fraud and reward blood donors

A blood donation centre in Shenzhen. Officials are being urged to incentivise volunteers. Photo: Shutterstock

Why US businesses should be worried about China’s corporate social credit system

Foreign companies will be required to hand over to Beijing more data for scrutiny. Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

(190904) -- BEIJING, Sept. 4, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presides over a State Council meeting in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 4, 2019. China's State Council on Wednesday appointed Ho Iat Seng as the fifth-term chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). His tenure will start from Dec. 20, 2019. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

FILE - In this May 29, 2019, file photo, a man uses his smartphone outside of a shop selling Huawei products at a shopping mall in Beijing. The New York Times reports the Trump administration plans to issue licenses to U.S. companies to supply “non-sensitive goods” to Chinese tech giant Huawei in a move that might help to cool tensions ahead of trade talks. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Chinese and American flags fly outside of a JW Marriott hotel in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018. The Marriot hotel chain apologized Thursday to China's government for referring to Tibet and self-ruled Taiwan as countries in a customer survey that news reports said Chinese police investigated as a possible crime. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Red lanterns and surveillance cameras sit on a lamppost in Beijing, China, on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Streets have been cleaned and security increased before the Oct. 1 holiday, when Chinese President Xi Jinping will preside over a military parade and deliver a speech celebrating the strength of China and the party. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

China’s social credit system shows its teeth, banning millions from taking flights, trains

(190211) -- FUZHOU, Feb. 11, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Passengers of the train No. D6503 arrive at Fuzhou Railway Station in southeast China's Fujian Province, Feb. 10, 2019. Railway trips in China reached 60.3 million during the week-long Spring Festival holiday from Feb. 4 to Feb. 10, data from the national railway operator showed Monday. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

About 17.46 million “discredited” people were restricted from buying plane tickets and 5.47 million were restricted from purchasing high-speed train tickets, the report said. Photo: Handout

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Social security ministry says individuals and companies that break law could face credit blacklisting on top of criminal penalties
Health officials urge local governments to look at ways of rewarding people who give blood



Social security ministry says individuals and companies that break law could face credit blacklisting on top of criminal penalties.


China society

China economy

Surveillance

China technology

China’s social credit system expands to target social security fraud and reward blood donors

Social security ministry says individuals and companies that break law could face credit blacklisting on top of criminal penalties Health officials urge local governments to look at ways of rewarding people who give blood

Social security ministry says individuals and companies that break law could face credit blacklisting on top of criminal penalties

Health officials urge local governments to look at ways of rewarding people who give blood