Japan rolls out national ID registry

The Japanese Government has launched a new compulsory national ID scheme in the face of stiff opposition. Academics and activists have already handed the Home Affairs Ministry a petition demanding the Government halts the programme, which will turn every Japanese citizen into an 11-digit number.

The opposition group has filed a court case claiming the new system is unconstitutional and should be stopped as it is a violation to privacy and tempts hackers. The new database stores personal data for every one of Japan's 126 million citizens. Included in the records are names, addresses, date of birth, gender and the new 11-digit ID number. The advantage to the Japanese citizen is that it makes it easier for them to gain access to a variety of public services and information.

Resistance is running high as five of Japan's municipalities are refusing to join the system. The Mayor of Yokohama, Japan's second largest city, has said that residents would be given the option of whether or not to take part. Other Mayors have stated they will withdraw their support if their citizen's data is not fully protected. So far, 4 million, of Japan's 127 million residents, live in areas that have opted out of the new system.

The main concern is the system will be used for foul means - many in Japan will recall the surveillance of citizens under the country's militarised system before and during the last war. Another issue is that the storage of centralised information will be a target for hackers, with the ID number being the key to the door of personal details of every Japanese citizen.

Protests so far have been organised in some style. When protestors presented the petition for the system's abolition, the event was accompanied by one protestor dressed as a computer and another as a the Japanese Prime Minister, both performed a short dance to illustrate the objections. Elsewhere ceremonies have been performed that shut down local systems from the national network thus stopping the spread of the system into the community.

It is yet to be seen how the Japanese Government handles the situation. But many other Governments considering similar moves will no doubt watch progress with interest. As we all become increasingly aware of security issues we press the authorities to act and yet in situations such as this, we are unhappy with the implementation of the solution.

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