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Social Control in the Digital Transformation of Society: A Case Study of the Chinese Social Credit System

Author

Listed:
  • Mo Chen

    (Department of Informatics, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany)

  • Jens Grossklags

    (Department of Informatics, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany)

Abstract

The Chinese social credit system (SCS) is a digital sociotechnical credit system that rewards and sanctions the economic and social behaviors of individuals and companies. This article uses classic social-control theories—the shaming theory and the labeling theory—to analyze the SCS, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the Chinese social-control approach to the digital transformation of society. Our research relies not only on government documents and media reports, but also on first-hand data collected from in-depth interviews conducted in China. We found that the perceived effectiveness of the shaming and labeling mechanisms is enhanced by the design of the SCS framework and the assistance of digital technology but weakened by a lack of transparency and questionable justification criteria, as well as privacy and fairness concerns.

Suggested Citation

  • Mo Chen & Jens Grossklags, 2022. "Social Control in the Digital Transformation of Society: A Case Study of the Chinese Social Credit System," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:11:y:2022:i:6:p:229-:d:822768
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Samuel C. A. Pereira, 2021. "On the precision of information," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 569-584, August.
    2. Geof Wood, 1985. "The Politics of Development Policy Labelling," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 16(3), pages 347-373, July.
    3. Furukawa, Ichiro & 古川, 一郎, 2016. "Empirical Study Of Personal Relationship Classification Effect Among Group-Oriented Countries," Hitotsubashi Journal of commerce and management, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 50(1), pages 47-60, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gilang D. Putra & Bagus Sigit Sunarko & Agung Purwanto, 2024. "Factors Behind Chinese Citizen Support to Implementation of Social Credit Policy," China Report, , vol. 60(2), pages 196-211, May.
    2. Mo Chen & Kristina Bogner & Joana Becheva & Jens Grossklags, 2023. "On the transparency of the credit reporting system in China," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.

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