Algorithmic regulation at the city level in China

Abstract On both global and local levels, one can observe a trend toward the adoption of algorithmic regulation in the public sector, with the Chinese social credit system (SCS) serving as a prominent and controversial example of this phenomenon. Within the SCS framework, cities play a pivotal role in its development and implementation, both as evaluators of individuals and enterprises and as subjects of evaluation themselves. This study engages in a comparative analysis of SCS scoring mechanisms for individuals and enterprises across diverse Chinese cities while also scrutinizing the scoring system applied to cities themselves. We investigate the extent of algorithmic regulation exercised through the SCS, elucidating its operational dynamics at the city level in China and assessing its interventionism, especially concerning the involvement of algorithms. Furthermore, we discuss ethical concerns surrounding the SCS’s implementation, particularly regarding transparency and fairness. By addressing these issues, this article contributes to two research domains: algorithmic regulation and discourse surrounding the SCS, offering valuable insights into the ongoing utilization of algorithmic regulation to tackle governance and societal challenges.