The laolai (‘deadbeat borrower’) map was developed by the Higher People’s Court of Hebei and officially registered in December 2018.

The map is opened in popular messaging app WeChat, identifies the user’s location, and scans their nearby area to flag up any individuals and companies in debt. The information can be shared as WeChat “moments”. Users are also encouraged to report nearby debtors to the court with any leads they may have; for instance, if a debtor is seen spotted a shopping trip.

A court statement claimed that: “The development and application of the map can further realise the connection and sharing of information on debtors and create a social honesty framework that limits those who lose their credibility in many ways.”

According to the Supreme People’s Court, more than 18 million individuals have so far been banned from flying and 5.5 million banned from buying high-speed rail results as a result of their debts.

The map has been widely received as a component of China’s highly controversial social credit system. The system was first outlined by Beijing in 2014 and is expected to be fully active by 2020. The system relies on analysis of colossal quantities of data collected from Chinese citizens – including health records, social media, social groups, private messages, financial details, purchases, and dating behaviour – being used to assess the reputation of individuals and companies.

Individuals judged to have poor social credit – such as those who spend a lot of time playing video games, or who share news critical of the Chinese government – could be banned from accessing transport, loans, and private schools, as well as having their score published for public shame. High-ranking citizens can enjoy discounts and access to a range of other services; China’s most popular dating site is offering to promote bachelors with the highest social credit scores.

According to the Global Times, a tabloid owned by the official government mouthpiece (People’s Daily), the app “enhances” China’s social credit system.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has reported that its search engine, Bing, has been blocked in China, while the Cyberspace Administration of China announced that it has deleted nearly 8000 “malicious” apps in the latest tightening of government control over Internet access.

The laolai (‘deadbeat borrower’) map was developed by the Higher People’s Court of Hebei and officially registered in December 2018.

The map is opened in popular messaging app WeChat, identifies the user’s location, and scans their nearby area to flag up any individuals and companies in debt. The information can be shared as WeChat “moments”. Users are also encouraged to report nearby debtors to the court with any leads they may have; for instance, if a debtor is seen spotted a shopping trip.

A court statement claimed that: “The development and application of the map can further realise the connection and sharing of information on debtors and create a social honesty framework that limits those who lose their credibility in many ways.”

According to the Supreme People’s Court, more than 18 million individuals have so far been banned from flying and 5.5 million banned from buying high-speed rail results as a result of their debts.

The map has been widely received as a component of China’s highly controversial social credit system. The system was first outlined by Beijing in 2014 and is expected to be fully active by 2020. The system relies on analysis of colossal quantities of data collected from Chinese citizens – including health records, social media, social groups, private messages, financial details, purchases, and dating behaviour – being used to assess the reputation of individuals and companies.

Individuals judged to have poor social credit – such as those who spend a lot of time playing video games, or who share news critical of the Chinese government – could be banned from accessing transport, loans, and private schools, as well as having their score published for public shame. High-ranking citizens can enjoy discounts and access to a range of other services; China’s most popular dating site is offering to promote bachelors with the highest social credit scores.

According to the Global Times, a tabloid owned by the official government mouthpiece (People’s Daily), the app “enhances” China’s social credit system.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has reported that its search engine, Bing, has been blocked in China, while the Cyberspace Administration of China announced that it has deleted nearly 8000 “malicious” apps in the latest tightening of government control over Internet access.