cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/536301

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The Russia’s State Social University (RSSU) has launched a “social rating” platform that claims to build a person’s “social portrait” with possible applications in future government policies.

Named “We,” the platform promises to determine a user’s comparative “social status” based on a survey that includes questions about income, family status, benefits, creditworthiness, criminal record, lifestyle and state awards, among others.

“The social rating figures don’t affect [a person’s] life, the availability of services or the career trajectory in any way,” RSSU said on the platform’s website. “But who knows what these figures will mean for you in the future?”

Observers on social media compared the platform’s name “We” to the highly influential 1921 dystopian novel of the same name by Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin. [The novel "We" describes a world of harmony and conformity within a united totalitarian state. It inspired British author George Orwell to write his own novel, "Nineteen Eighty-Four", which was published in 1949.]

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[–] 124 points 2 years ago (1 child)

Well this sounds a bit familiar...

Next step is adding a scoring system with penalties for certain behavior and it will be quite similar to the social system that is rolling out in China...

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  • [–] 56 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    That's probably the inspiration, but like hell they'll manage to actually build something as functional.

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  • [–] 11 points 2 years ago (7 children)

    I wouldn’t underestimate the engineering competence of Russians especially when it comes to autocratic surveillance tools. There are plenty of Russian-built tools and web apps that function quite well - Yandex, VK, etc. The west does not have a monopoly on innovation.

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  • [–] 110 points 2 years ago* (3 children)

    Observers on social media compared the platform’s name “We” to the highly influential 1921 dystopian novel of the same name by Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin.

    They actually couldn't choose a different name than the novel that was written specifically about this very dystopian subject? Did they use it as inspiration? Because that seems more than coincidence...

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  • [–] 7 points 2 years ago*

    It's a blocking method. If 90% of the people who search a term are looking for the social platform it becomes much harder to find the book. Think of it like trying to find archival news articles about a perennial topic. You have to wade through all the recent shit and then there's 2 hits from the time period you're checking.

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  • [+] 84 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 child)
  • [–] 82 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    The social rating figures don’t affect [a person’s] life, the availability of services or the career trajectory in any way

    unless you're gay...

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    [–] 64 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    This is literally the plot for a Black Mirror episode.

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  • [–] 41 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    They made meow meow beans?

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  • [+] 38 points 2 years ago* (last edited 7 months ago)
    [–] 37 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    “The social rating figures don’t affect [a person’s] life, the availability of services or the career trajectory in any way,” RSSU said on the platform’s website. “But who knows what these figures will mean for you in the future?”

    Well that's a relief...

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    [–] 28 points 2 years ago

    Let's see how the Make Russia China campaign goes!

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  • [–] 23 points 2 years ago

    I give this news 5 MeowMeowBeenz.

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  • [–] 18 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Oh shit it’s meow meow beans

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    [–] 17 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    You can see why all the M-Ls on this site want Russia to win their fascist invasion. Clearly the Revolution lives.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago

    Some .ml fellas can explain that this is good, actually. Oil oligarch kleptocracy with murdering political opponent characteristics is one of the most leftist governments possible, so everything they do is good.

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  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago (9 children)

    ...but who knows...

    Yeeaaaahhhhh, about that. We are totally not going the China way, its just that we are because fuck you.

    Russia is a maffia state and should be dismantled, prove me wrong.

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    [–] 14 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Omg, the RSSU, lmao. How is this not the Onion?

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  • [–] 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (12 children)

    Named “We,” the platform promises to determine a user’s comparative “social status” based on a survey that includes questions about income, family status, benefits, creditworthiness, criminal record, lifestyle and state awards, among others.

    Criminal record: putin's scoreboard of excellency https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3174724/russias-putin-decorates-army-unit-accused-ukraine-war-crimes

    How many putinpoints do they get for using a 3 to 13million$ Kh-101 cruise missile to bomb a children's hospital chemo ward?

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    [+] 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)
    [–] 13 points 2 years ago*

    Russia can into tinpot dictator.

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  • [–] 11 points 2 years ago

    Putinism as it is. Oligarchy and survailance.

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  • [–] 11 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Seems like RSSU is fishing for the government's money.

    It's probably very badly implemented and doesn't work as described. In a sense this is good, but my point stands.

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    [–] 10 points 2 years ago

    The devs of this planet are lazy and rehashing content.

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