-- Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 15:06:14 +0900 From: Joichi Ito <jitoat_private> Subject: National ID, ID cards and poorly written privacy bill a huge blow to Japan I wanted to send folks an update on the electronic privacy situation in Japan. A bill passed last year that will create a national ID number starting August of this year. This law also allows the local governments to create IC cards with photo and other ID information including the national ID number. Although government agencies and the local governments are restricted to sharing just the name, date, age and address information between agencies, there is little restriction on who can use and what can be stored on the ID card. In addition, over a hundred "addition information" databases have been approved linking the national ID number and other information. A new privacy bill is in the process of passing. It is poorly written because it does not define personal information and is generally very vague and strict on how government can control business. On the other hand, it allows the government to collect information and exchange information with other agencies without approval or notice as long as there is a "strong" reason. Information collected can used in ways other than originally intended as long as there is a reasonable relationship. There is no penalty for abuse of personal information by the government. The combination of these two bills is a huge problem. One creates a computer network, an ID card and an ID number to be the platform, and ironically, a privacy bill that describes how the government will be granted broad rights to use this information. This is a very sneaky strategy since everyone focused on the national ID bill which has been narrowly written to prevent many of the problems raised by privacy advocates. On the other hand, the bill supposed to protect our privacy has been warped to be very strict on business, but opening up widely, the ability for the government to abuse our information. Several people including myself are trying to get the government to shut down the plan for the national ID before it goes "live" in August. Any support or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sign this pro-therapeutic cloning petition: http://www.franklinsociety.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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