China has instituted a “social credit” score for virtually all its adult citizens ... in essence a computer weighing based upon many social parameters as to how good a “citizen” its residents are. This score is then used by China to allow or restrict social rewards: freedom to travel, welfare benefits, medical services ... anything that the government can control ... and the government of China controls almost everything. This is all very restrictive and frightening ... the ultimate in Big Brother tyranny.
Now the barons of Silicone Valley are thinking to emulate this Brave New World ... see: Fast Company Story. Will these tech tyrants follow China’s lead in using the same parameters that measure us? (They already have quite a bit of raw data with which to work ... our buying patterns, our credit scores, our browsing histories, our friends, our travel preferences, our DNA, etc. ... and now are vying to corner our medical records and banking transactions too ... but, interestingly, not if we are a US citizen). So this development, unless it is nipped in the bud by Trump, might collect some other personal data on us Americans. May I suppose:
- have we ever typed or spoken the word “transgender”?
- do we vape or do any drugs?
- do we listen to gospel music?
- have we ever made a political donation ... and to which party?
- do we own an all-electric vehicle?
- what level of melanin do we have in our skin?
- do we believe in God, Allah, or climate change caused by CO2?
- do we own a weapon more powerful than a BB gun?
- do we own a BB gun?
- have we memorized any Bob Dylan lyrics?
Will Mark Zukerburg soon effectively own us everyone ... cast our votes ... make all other choices for us? ... or else!
