Japan IDs All Its Citizens

Edis Krad writes "While RealID in the US is a threat whose implementation is a ways in the future, the Japanese long ago implemented something similar; and there has been very little complaint raised about it. The Juki Net (Residents Registration Network — link in Japanese) has been silently developing since 1992. The system involves an 11-digit unique number to identify every citizen in Japan, and the data stored against that ID covers name, address, date of birth, and gender. Many Japanese citizens seem to be oblivious that such a government-run network exists. Juki Net had a spotlight shone on it recently because a number of citizens around the country sued against it, citing concerns of information misuse or leakage. And while an Osaka court ruled against the system, the Japanese Supreme Court has just ruled it is not unconstitutional, on the grounds that the data will be used in a bona-fide manner and there's no risk of leakage. While there is a longstanding registration system for us foreigners in Japan, what astonishes me is how the government can secretly implement such a system for its citizens, and how little concern the media and Japanese citizens in general display about the privacy implications."

Comments

Re:What do you expect from a US written constituti

[freedom_india]

Hey ! US Constitution was the MOST Liberal constitution every written.
It virtually guaranteed freedom from persecution based on religion, caste, creed, color or anything.
It was the first constitution that was 200 years ahead of its time in securing people against unwarranted searches.
It also made sure Justice was not delayed and guaranteed an accused was judged by peers.

The recent assault on constitution culminating in Bush approving torture, and wanting retroactive immunity, even though constitution rejects it is an aberration.

Coming to japan, what can you expect from a country that thought surrendering soldiers were cowards; whose soliders sent sent hair, finger nails to their families as soveneirs, that Baatan March was a pleasant trip, that STILL practices discrimination against its own people and thinks derogatory about all non-japanese.

I do hope their extreme xenophobia, introverted culture dies with them slowly.
I hope in 200 years, japan as a distinct country becomes extinct.