Regimentation revolt: no IDs for the Japanese.

• Author: Doherty, Brian
• Position: Citings - Brief Article

THE FAMOUSLY regimented Japanese are showing some individualist spirit in a fight against a new national ID system.

The program, called Juki Net, assigns every Japanese resident an 11-digit number. It is meant to help the government centralize the computer networks that track citizens' personal data. Currently it is used for 93 government services, most prominently for issuing proof-of-residence documents, which are needed to obtain driver's licenses and open bank accounts, among other things. A bill now under consideration would extend the number's use to 175 more functions, including passports. Electronic ID cards to go with the numbers are planned for August 2003.

Six administrative areas of Japan, home to 4 million citizens, have refused to join the network. They cite the lack of any law to protect privacy, despite the...