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China's Vast New Experiment in Social Ranking
Wired
By Mara Hvistendahl
...The Chinese government announced it was developing what it called a system of “social credit.” In 2014, the State Council, China’s governing cabinet, publicly called for the establishment of a nationwide tracking system to rate the reputations of individuals, businesses, and even government officials. The aim is for every Chinese citizen to be trailed by a file compiling data from public and private sources by 2020, and for those files to be searchable by fingerprints and other biometric characteristics.
You can bet they have other methods in place to track you as well...some that NO ONE is aware of too.
Im on the fence with SS numbers though, its says very clearly right on the card...NOT TO BE USED FOR IDENTIFICATION, plus they are fairly easy to fake, plenty of people running around with fake SS numbers.
I remember when stores used to ask for your SS number when you cashed a check. They really got upset when I refused. A manager was usually called over and I would tell them to take out theirs and read what it said regarding using it for ID. I never once ended up having to show it. On occasion I would leave with check in hand and merchandise on the counter. Their problem. Not mine.
China's Vast New Experiment in Social Ranking
Wired
By Mara Hvistendahl
...The Chinese government announced it was developing what it called a system of “social credit.” In 2014, the State Council, China’s governing cabinet, publicly called for the establishment of a nationwide tracking system to rate the reputations of individuals, businesses, and even government officials. The aim is for every Chinese citizen to be trailed by a file compiling data from public and private sources by 2020, and for those files to be searchable by fingerprints and other biometric characteristics.
As the article mentioned, this is really just the Chinese version of the FICO score. Something we've been using for decades. Of course, while they've become a more capitalistic economy, they are still ruled by a communist government, so the government is looking to use the same info to go further than just your "financial trustworthiness".
That said - it's fairly ironic how accurate the dystopian Sci-fi stories are getting more and more like reality. Especially the movies/books that talk about corporations basically running the world as opposed to government.
Quote:
Originally Posted by d4g4m
It's in its basic stage but the U.S. already has a nationwide tracking system. We call it a Social Security number.
This is one of my bigger pet peeves - how much the SSN is used for pretty much anything financial. The system was never intended for these purposes. But a lot of our critical infrastructure "latched on" to this ID system. Since it existed, and everyone has one, it was easy to use rather than develop something different. However, because it was never designed for this - there were never any controls to prevent the abuse of it.
There is zero reason why your healthcare provider should be asking for this - not to mention their inability to really protect that information. Yet, try getting care if you choose not to provide it... In most cases, they don't even know why they're collecting it - it's just "it's always been done" or "our parent company requires us to do it".
As the article mentioned, this is really just the Chinese version of the FICO score. Something we've been using for decades. Of course, while they've become a more capitalistic economy, they are still ruled by a communist government, so the government is looking to use the same info to go further than just your "financial trustworthiness".
That said - it's fairly ironic how accurate the dystopian Sci-fi stories are getting more and more like reality. Especially the movies/books that talk about corporations basically running the world as opposed to government.
This is one of my bigger pet peeves - how much the SSN is used for pretty much anything financial. The system was never intended for these purposes. But a lot of our critical infrastructure "latched on" to this ID system. Since it existed, and everyone has one, it was easy to use rather than develop something different. However, because it was never designed for this - there were never any controls to prevent the abuse of it.
There is zero reason why your healthcare provider should be asking for this - not to mention their inability to really protect that information. Yet, try getting care if you choose not to provide it... In most cases, they don't even know why they're collecting it - it's just "it's always been done" or "our parent company requires us to do it".
I have never been required to give my physicians my SSN number. If I was asked I would refuse.
As the article mentioned, this is really just the Chinese version of the FICO score. Something we've been using for decades. Of course, while they've become a more capitalistic economy, they are still ruled by a communist government, so the government is looking to use the same info to go further than just your "financial trustworthiness".
Various subsections of our civilization have their own "social ranking" systems. Like the "rep points" on this forum. The government has some similarity of that in use, but they don't allow it to be known. (Try to get into the office to talk to the Sec of Interior, if you have no credentials that make him want to see you.)
Quote:
That said - it's fairly ironic how accurate the dystopian Sci-fi stories are getting more and more like reality. Especially the movies/books that talk about corporations basically running the world as opposed to government.
...
I absolutely agree. This is both a product of our massive populations increases over the past 150 years, and the natural human tendency to move towards and oligarchical society.
I have never been required to give my physicians my SSN number. If I was asked I would refuse.
I have at some point. It’s buried in the plethora of new-patient or annual-update paperwork they cram onto a clipboard for you to fill out, prior to an appointment.
Even if not; they already have it. Have you ever looked at the “HIPAA Rights” statement you sign? You are not signing to give them consent to access or provide anything; you sign to state that you’ve been notified that they will access everything. Consent or not. https://www.healthit.gov/topic/inter...s-data-sharing
My opinion is that it is not as benign as “necessary for streamlining”, as there are serious implications for potential compulsory public health measures.
Employment Managed Health Care plan? Need SSN. Medicaid/Medicare? Need SSN. Indigent programs? Need SSN. That’s why cash paying private citizens freak them out; they are off the grid.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TRex2
Various subsections of our civilization have their own "social ranking" systems. Like the "rep points" on this forum.
I feel like large message boards, social media groups & their members actually are already utilized in studies regarding topics like “credibility”, “reputation” & “influence”. In fact, I know they are. Isn’t that what the “social listening” programs & services are for?
Pharma is a big consumer of those programs & so are “departments of”, such as the CDC. They would be stupid not to.
I feel like large message boards, social media groups & their members actually are already utilized in studies regarding topics like “credibility”, “reputation” & “influence”. In fact, I know they are. Isn’t that what the “social listening” programs & services are for?
Pharma is a big consumer of those programs & so are “departments of”, such as the CDC. They would be stupid not to.
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