China Seeks to Introduce the Social Credit System into the Metaverse
- China seeks to bring a social credit system to the metaverse and other virtual universes.
- State-owned telecom firm China Mobile has proposed digital IDs for the same.
- The IDs would work with “natural characteristics” and “social characteristics.”
- The goal behind the proposal is “to keep the order and safety of the virtual world.”
Despite banning crypto-related activities multiple times in the past, China has now opened up to the concept of blockchain technology and digital assets, allowing companies to operate in the region via regulatory clearance. Interestingly, the government now plans to introduce a social credit system in the metaverse and other online virtual universes.
China wants digital IDs and real-world punishments for the decisions and actions taken in the metaverse. As per a report from Politico on August 20, the state-owned telecom firm China Mobile has proposed digital identification cards for the metaverse and other virtual worlds that would work with “natural characteristics” and “social characteristics.”
Additionally, the proposal also stated that all the people from China who are part of virtual worlds and the metaverse will have to provide some personal details so that they can be identified with ease in case of mishaps and “to keep the order and safety of the virtual world.” Data like a person’s job and other suggested information could be stored permanently and also shared with the authorities.
An example was provided by the proposal of a user based in China who “spreads rumors and makes chaos in the metaverse” and a digital ID enabling authorities to find the person quickly and with ease.
This proposal mirrors the social credit system that China follows, wherein people are provided scores and ranked across various metrics. The system is also used as an enforcement tool in the country.
Interestingly, according to a report from the Associated Press, back in 2019, the authorities in the country banned social offenders from purchasing plane tickets 17.5 million times in 2018, while other social offenders were punished by being barred from purchasing train tickets 5.5 million times.
As reported earlier by BitcoinWisdom, in May, the Bank of China partnered with French international banking group BNP Paribas to promote the adoption of the digital yuan. The partnership allowed the Chinese clients of the French bank to be able to generate and maintain a connection system with the national bank.
A crypto journalist with over 3 years of experience in DeFi, NFT, metaverse, etc. Parth has worked with major media outlets in the crypto and finance world and has gained experience and expertise in crypto culture after surviving bear and bull markets over the years.
