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Hebei, a Northern Chinese Province, Unveils an App That Triggers a Notification When You're Near Someone in Debt (standard.co.uk)

China is gearing up to launch a social credit system in 2020, giving all citizens an identity number that will be linked to a permanent record. Like a financial score, everything from paying back loans to behaviour on public transport will be included. One aspect of this social credit system is a new app in the northern province of Hebei. From a report: According to the state-run newspaper China Daily, the Hebei-based app will alert people if there are in 500 metres of someone in debt. It's like being on Oxford Street and being able to work out everyone around you who was in debt. According to the financial charity, the Money Charity, the average UK household debt (including mortgages) was $76,000, in June last year. That's a lot of notifications.

3 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Notification tone... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think what the summary misses - is that this is referring to social credit debt, not just any debt in general. This whole discussion is off the rails.

  2. Re:Social experiments by Immerman · · Score: 3, Informative

    In fairness, whenever the Middle East starts getting their shit together, Western powers overthrow their democratically elected governments and install puppet dictators in their place. Ditto when the puppets stop doing what they're told. Can't have a government that answers to the populace and their own interests interfering with the cheap flow of that sweet, sweet crude.

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    --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
  3. Re:Social experiments by cayenne8 · · Score: 1, Informative

    Well, somehow the Soviet block (E. Europe) seems to have successfully changed their repressive governments without guns

    Hey, it can happen occasionally....but it happens faster with guns if it has too....and, having guns helps PREVENT the govt from becoming tyrannical to begin with....

    Our US founding fathers knew this, and hence were often quoted, even outside of the constitution, etc.....as saying how important it was for the populace to be armed and stay armed as a last resort protection against the very govt. becoming tyrannical.

    And yes, I know there are a lot of memes going around that have been shown to not have been said by the founding fathers, but there are plenty of quotes that are true.

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    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........