Russia begins to implement China-styled social credit system 'We'
The Russian State Social University (RGSU) has developed a social rating system called “We”. They are going to divide us all into categories and use this in the work of government bodies and public organizations.
Irina Mishina
October 4, 2023
The description of this project raises many questions.
The developers of the new system want to link the social rating (scoring code) with personal data - such as SNILS, INN, passport and phone number. The question arises: why is all this needed and how will this new round of digitalization differ from State Services?
Here's what. This system, as conceived by its developers, is based on the principles of a qualimetric platform, which is similar to banking scoring systems. The developers compare it with the Chinese social rating system, where citizens are awarded points for charitable activities, political loyalty and other criteria. If you have a low rating in China, certain rights and opportunities may be limited. The “We” platform intends to assign each citizen a “two-component scoring code”, including “social status” and “social level”. These concepts are defined as a metric of accumulated qualities and characteristics of a person, as well as a quantitative characteristic of achieved results and potential in social terms.
How will all this work and what will it be needed for? What parameters of citizens are supposed to be taken into account? And most importantly, what are the consequences of all this?
We addressed these questions to the RGSU, but they preferred to answer our questions briefly and selectively.
“Our scientists set the task of developing a modern social scoring system on a specially created qualimetric platform using probabilistic and statistical assessment models. One of the results of the study will be the creation of a system that can be used by authorities at all levels and public organizations to provide prompt and objective social support to the population. Work in this direction started more than a year ago and involves collecting certain social information from respondents who take part in the study on a voluntary basis,” Vasily Viktorovich Urozhenko, vice-rector for science at the Russian State Social University (RGSU), told NI .
This evasive answer gave rise to even more questions. Moreover, all this begged the inevitable question: “For what?”
“I strongly doubt that such a project will be implemented in Russia. First of all, because we have an extremely low level of digitalization. State services do not work in the regions - some do not have a computer or just a gadget, others are not as advanced users. And in the cities there is a mostly protest electorate, which is unlikely to support this topic with a social rating. Well, if you think about it, what will happen as a result of this rating if someone’s rating turns out to be low? Will they sell a plane or train ticket? They won't let you into the store? But this is a violation of human rights. Won't they give you a loan from the bank? Yes, no one takes them anyway, banks are chasing consumers. Will they not get hired or will they not advance up the career ladder? But it’s impossible to get a prestigious job other than through a recommendation, and people advance up the career ladder most often thanks to family or other connections,” says political scientist Alexander Kynev.
Indeed, this social rating somehow emanates the division of people into castes and the loss of rights, which suggests not-so-distant historical parallels.