Abstract
A new national database and smart card system for integrated management of resident registry personal information, known in Japan as Juki Net, began in August, 1992. Juki Net links computers in all the cities, towns and villages to handle personal information for all Japanese by assigning each 11-degit ID number. Juki Net handles the name, identity number, address, sex, birth date and a record of changes in date for each resident. This data is kept on a central database managed by a governmental affiliated organization and available on a computer network at municipal offices through prefectural governments. Also, Juki Net will allow any ministry or agency to tap such data on any citizen. National government officials suggest extending the use of Juki Net for tax filing, e-commerce and the others in the future. However, if Juki Net were eventually linked to health records or financial transactions, it would a grave threat to individual privacy. The national government claims that Juki Net will promote more efficient electronic government and a new smart card system will be useful as "public service cards," but not as "inner passports." However, in a poll by the press, more than 86% said that introducing Juki Net is the kind of reactionary policy and will increase the potential threats for citizens' privacy and invade citizens' human dignity. Juki Net opponents still ask the national government to abandon this new Big Brother ID scheme. Several local governors decided to opt out of Juki Net. However, the national government responds, "You have nothing to hide, so you have nothing to fare." Many electronics firms think that introducing Juki Net is merely a big business chance. They are not very much concerned about "privacy issues." The national government has to respect public consensus on this issue. Japan needs to abandon Juki Net and think the definite privacy policy again.
