The social credit system in China and its impact on society and its concrete implementation using the example of the Alipay payment platform

Since the 1990s, China has gradually established a social credit system. In 2014, the State Council officially released the “Plan for Building a Social Credit System”. This plan aims to develop a social credit system in various industries. Alipay, as an open platform for making payments for goods and services in China, is one of the most popular e-commerce formats in the country today. Credit Sesame, as a comprehensive credit history assessment system for individuals from Alipay, carries out comprehensive processing and assessment of users’ actions when purchasing goods and services, as well as when fulfilling credit obligations and forming a social credit. The aim of this paper is to analyze the concrete embodiment of the social rating system within Alipay Credit Sesame and to identify the role of this system in society. Specific practical recommendations for other electronic payment platforms are provided.