Blog Post #11

     When listening to the other EOTO presentations, something that stood out to me was the "social credit score," a method that is being implemented by other countries around the world. Based on numerous factors, the social credit score would show data and analytics on someone's search history, buying history, and other online trails to make reasonable assumptions on their character, interests, and nature as a person. 

    Though are these "reasonable" assumptions really reasonable?  Through our class's learning of data mining, we learned that social medias make inferences about users based on data and that information can be sold to the government, which can watch and believe random people are potential threats to national security simply based on inferences on their online activity. 

    The "social credit score" would not be so different than assumptions made by artificial intelligence by data mining practices. What is so dangerous about this is the fact that these assumptions are just that: assumptions. Just because there is someone with specific interested that happen to share those with criminals does not mean that person is a criminal. 

    For example, if a terrorist's favorite color is purple and so is mine, that does not make me a terrorist. Though a very general example, the theory in itself is similar to that: incredibly short sighted. The use of the "social credit score" is and will continue to be extremely problematic. Especially if implemented in the United States, it would cause a plethora of negative impacts that could risk causing more chaos than ever in our democracy.

    Furthermore, a social credit score system could also raise concerns about the role of the government in monitoring and controlling individuals' behavior. If implemented, a system such as the social credit score system could lead to the government infringing on the liberties and rights of its citizens and be considered a governmental overreach. 

    While a social credit score system could have some potential benefits on the chance that some assumptions made are accurate, improving social behavior, and encouraging responsibility, it also poses significant risks to people's privacy, individuality, and freedom. Its implementation into a country such as the United States would have disastrous effects and should not even considered for use. Having at least some privacy is a part of being human, and the social credit score system would take away much of that.