What kind of citizen are you? In China, authorities are on the verge of creating an electronic database that would allow people to rate their fellow 1.3 billion netizens based on certain parameters.

With the aim of making Chinese citizens more accountable for their financial decision and moral choices, the Social Credit System will rate individuals on parameters that include one's capacity to pay bills on time, to follow traffic rules or observe birth control policy. 

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Furthermore, the system, as published by China's State Council, is  aimed at "carrying forward sincerity and traditional virtues," "encouraging trust," "raising the overall competitiveness of the country," and "stimulating ... the progress of civilization."

"The Chinese government already has a back door into everything on your phone and on the Internet, so this isn't exactly a new way to control people's lives," political activist Hu Jia said. "What's new is that Chinese authorities can systematically analyze all this data ... and China doesn't have an Edward Snowden to focus the public's attention on these privacy issues."

On a positive note, utilizing these big data may reveal sensitive information but could in theory promote good governance by giving the freedom to scrutinize the activities on corrupt officials. Having good social credit could also add clout to the credibility of businessmen and businesswomen.

A scholar of China and technology from the University of Oxford Rogier Creemers said "A lot of data capture is there to overcome horrible problems of bad government, ranging from pollution and food security to corruption in education and badly delivered healthcare."

Given the fact that these can be abused, Creemers revealed "The idea that the Communist Party wants to legitimize its rule by pleasing the people is [also] basic politics."

TagsSocial Credit System, Social Credit, credit ranking, citizen ranking, yelp, Alibaba Group, World News, China Social Credit System, China Social Credit Rating