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Public Shaming of Debtors

The Chinese government has developed an app that links to WeChat – a communication app similar to WhatsApp, which reveals people’s debtor status.

The app reveals when someone nearby is a debtor and shares information about who they are, why they are listed and their level of debt. Some have described the app as a measure to publicly shame people into reducing or settling their debts.

The App also allows people to find the shamed debtor (possibly enabling them to collect on debts or report the individual).

Social Credit Rating

While many countries are making it harder and harder to find out personal information about their citizens it seems China is going in the other direction and sharing this information publicly. This ties in with the social credit system which the country is introducing for 2020 and it could be that people with low social scores could be prevented from getting credit, travelling and even getting certain types of employment.