China to bar people with bad ‘social credit’ from trains, planes

China said it will begin applying its so-called social credit system to flights and trains and stop people who have committed misdeeds from taking such transport for up to a year.

People who would be put on the restricted lists included those found to have committed acts like spreading false information about terrorism and causing trouble on flights, as well as those who used expired tickets or smoked on trains, according to two statements issued on the website of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) website on Friday.

Those found to have committed financial wrongdoings, such as employers who failed to pay social insurance or people who have failed to pay fines, would also face these restrictions, said the statements which were dated March 2.

It said the rules would come into effect on May 1.

The initiative comes as Chinese internet users grow increasingly concerned about user privacy and how the country’s technology giants are handling personal information.

In China, laws require companies to store users’ data on servers in the country, and mainland tech companies reportedly pass on data when the Chinese government makes a request.