Advertisement
Manspreading on the Beijing subway could give you bad social credit
China plans to roll out a national social credit system by 2020
2-MIN READ2-MIN
Manspreading is considered by many a breach of subway etiquette. It became such a scourge in 2015 that New York transport authorities started putting up posters asking men to keep their legs together. In Beijing, though, space hoarders could soon face consequences more serious than just the scorn of fellow riders.
The Beijing Municipal Commission of Transportation is proposing to link a passenger’s bad behavior on the subway with social credit. Those who take up extra seats on trains will be marked as “uncivilized” -- and so will those who eat during rides, hawk goods to other passengers or sneak into the subway without paying.
It’s just one example of how local regulatory bodies around the country are experimenting with ways to implement China’s grand vision of a nationwide social credit system. The scheme is scheduled to roll out by 2020, according to a blueprint released in 2014, with the goal of punishing and rewarding citizens by their financial and legal activities. It also brings in data from online behavior, education records and employment histories, among other conduct.
Select Voice
Select Speed
1x
AI-generated voice