Introduction of resident registration network system should be shelved -- Akahata editorial, July 9 (excerpts)

The government plans to introduce a computer network system of basic resident registration on August 5, based on the revised resident registration law which the Liberal Democratic and Komei Parties forced through the Diet in 1999 despite concerns from the general public.

In the system, every Japanese will be given an 11-digit number, and the national and local governments as system administrators compile people's personal information.

Some local governments are calling for the system's introduction to be postponed. The system caused problems in about 30 percent of local governments that carried out test networking.

A public opinion survey conducted by Kyodo News Service showed that 83 percent of respondents didn't know about the system's proposed introduction on August 5, and 51 percent demanded a suspension and reexamination of the system.

Whether convenience in information access and protection of personal information can coexist or not is an important question. The system should not start on August 5.

The Japanese Communist Party has opposed the system because it won't provide sufficient steps to protect people's privacy.

As information technology is rapidly developing, we have seen our personal information being leaked out and wrongfully used. If people's information registered on resident cards, including names, addresses, gender and birth dates, were put on a nationwide computer network with common serial numbers, it would only increase the risk of personal information leakage.

The government originally planned to allow the resident registration network system to be used for 93 administrative tasks, but it now intends to increase the system coverage to 264 which will include passports, pensions, real estate registration, and automobile registration.

We are afraid that the system would eventually be a computerized personal data system that could lead to abuse.

As shown in the Defense Agency's information seekers' list making scandal, government organizations tend to monitor the people systematically. The resident registration network may work as a monitor of people's privacy. (end)