A test case for Mill: the Social Credit System

With new surveillance technologies, China is constructing several economic and social governance systems, collectively called the social credit system, to boost trustworthiness. This thesis offers a normative response with Mill’s On Liberty. Mill would be (1) neutral towards to the financial component that assesses creditworthiness, (2) ambiguous about the social management domain that punishes crime, and (3) a fervent critic of the moral component that influences opinions in a restricted freedom of speech environment. Furthermore, he would defend the liberty of thought and expression; also on social media. Lastly, he would reject that the government selects one specific trait to develop, like trustworthiness. Individuals should choose for themselves.