I don't think this is such a bad idea in principle, but I disagree with a lot of these rules. I've tried to find a few examples from various articles and see if I agree or disagree with them.

Note: [𝗫] means that I agree with the rule.

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[] Spending too long playing video games (or watching too much TV)

I don't know how long is "too long", but I wouldn't criticize anyone for playing in the evenings after work, or longer on the weekends. And what if someone is or unable to work, or financially independent? The government shouldn't be telling people how to spend their time.

[] Wasting money on frivolous purchases

This is a very strange thing to measure and judge.

[] Posting on social media

This is bizarre.

[𝗫] Trying to ride a train with no ticket

[𝗫] Loitering in front of boarding gates

[𝗫] Smoking in no-smoking areas.

[] People who refused military service

Forced conscription is an awful idea and should be banned by the UN. (I found this [1].)

[𝗫] "Pet owners get points deducted if the dog is walked without a leash..."

[] "... or causes public disturbances"

I don't know about that. Don't penalize someone because their dog starts barking at something.

[𝗫] Some crimes, like fraud and embezzlement, would also have a big effect on social credit.

[𝗫] Not paying individual taxes or fines.

[𝗫 in a western country, but not in China] - Spreading false information

I wouldn't trust the Chinese government to enforce this. Maybe in Canada, US, UK, Aus, NZ.

Taking drugs: 𝗫 for all Class A drugs, but not for marijuana, ecstacy, LSD, mushrooms, etc.

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I'm assuming that the following criteria exist, although I didn't find anything online:

[] Using a VPN to get past the Great Firewall

I truly don't understand why China feels the need for censorship and blocking websites with the Great Firewall. It just doesn't make any sense to me. It's not like the rest of the world has fallen into anarchy because we can say whatever we want.

[𝗫] Downloading pirated movies, music, games, and software

I'm thinking about this from a western point of view, where we have access to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Google Play, iTunes, etc. There's no valid reason to torrent things anymore. People should be able to afford to rent movies or TV shows instead of pirating them.

[] Organizing a pro-democracy rally / protesting communism

It's just strange that people get in trouble for this, and I presume that they lose a lot of their social credit points.

[] Practicing Islam, Christianity, Falun Gong

I think this is the far more dystopian side of China, and far more terrible than the social credit system.

[] Referring to Xi Jinping as Winnie the Pooh

It just doesn't seem like such a big deal. Same for the Erdogan / Gollum picture. These people just need to lighten up and take a joke. (But I understand it's a different culture.)

[] Taking big risks to start a new company

I still can't believe that entrepreneurship was illegal in the Soviet Union. I would like to learn more about the history of entrepreneurship in China, but I believe it's very accepted now, especially in cities like Shenzhen. I included this because I feel like everyone would be expected to go to university, get a good job, and have a peaceful life, and you might lose some social credit if you veer off that path. That's definitely not a world I want to live in.

[] Relationship problems, divorce, infidelity

Should have nothing to do with the government.

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Anyway, I think the social credit system could work in a better country with better laws. My main problem with China is the terrible human rights violations, lack of free speech, censorship, and no freedom of religion.

[1] https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/RuleOfLaw/Pages/Conscientiou...