Illustration: Lu Ting/GT

It seems that along with Shanghai's rapid economic and social development, many local people have forgotten the traditional Chinese virtue of credibility or trustworthiness. Stories of con men and other examples of dishonesty are often reported in local media. A pilot program expanded at the end of last year has the potential to become a crucial tool to improve public behavior.

Since December 31, local residents' personal "credit profiles" have been made accessible to legal representatives and individuals. Applicants can check their own credit information on the website www.shcredit.gov.cn from more than 50 government departments and utility enterprises such as the civil affairs bureau, the courts, the national grid, telecom operators and the metro company.

Each person's credit history includes a record of unpaid taxes, unpaid electricity fees, fines issued by law enforcement departments, marital status, exit-entry records, driving records and petty violations such as fare dodging. In the near future, financial information such as overdue debt from banks will be included when the system is completed.

Previously, such information was only accessible to government departments. While it's a positive step that the pilot program allows individuals to find out their own credit status, citizens should also be able to check the personal credit profiles of other citizens.

In a society where individuals lack self-restraint and some dishonest activities are not covered within the scope of laws, public supervision of personal behavior is necessary.

If each person's credit record is available to others, such as relatives, friends and co-workers, the system can be a deterrent against bad behavior. The deterrent of losing face, or diu mianzi, is far more influential than bad credit records that are only accessible to the offenders themselves.

Dishonesty can also cause social problems and is at heart of many crimes. The release of individuals' credit information can help protect other citizens from being cheated. It's not uncommon to hear of fraud cases happening in the city. If citizens have access to the credit information of people they plan to do business or trade with, they can see if that person has unpaid debts or is otherwise untrustworthy before they sign a contract or give their hard-earned money to relatives and strangers.

Some may argue that the information held in the city's credit record system should remain private. However, protecting the privacy of law and regulation violators infringes on the interests and rights of innocent citizens.

In a recent case, Pudong New Area People's Court last week rejected a local woman's request to unfreeze an apartment she bought from a homeowner so deep in debt that the court froze ownership of the property. The court later suggested that home buyers should examine a property owner's credit record to protect their rights and minimize financial losses, especially when the owner has outstanding loans or has put up the property as collateral.

However, such advice can only be followed if local citizens have access to others' credit records.

In the meantime, the release of credit information to the public can help the public take part in the supervision of those in positions of power and further protect the public's interests.

Of course, if every citizen's credit information is exposed to the public, there will probably be new problems appearing. Related standards and laws have to be worked out to restrict the use of the information and to protect the information owners' legitimate interests and rights as well.