China: People with bad “social credit” barred from planes, trains from May 1

Event

The Chinese authorities will soon launch a "social credit system" that can be used to ban certain individuals from traveling by plane or train for up to a year. Individuals risk being placed on restricted lists if they commit acts such as spreading false information about terrorism, causing trouble on flights, traveling with expired tickets, or smoking on trains. The measure is set to come into effect on May 1.

Context

The move is in line with President's Xi Jinping's plan to construct a social credit system based on the principle of "once untrustworthy, always restricted." Over 6 million Chinese citizens were banned from taking flights for social misdeeds in 2017, according to the authorities.

Advice

On a related note, foreign nationals traveling by rail need to show a passport in order to purchase a ticket and again when boarding.