Japan's nationwide computer network for resident registration, known as ``Juki Net,'' is due to come into full-scale operation Monday. The network, which was launched in August last year, allows citizens to obtain a copy of their certificates of residence from any municipal government in the country by presenting proper identification, such as a driver's license.
Use of the ``Juki Card,'' a smart card containing the holder's basic personal data and issued by cities, towns and villages to residents who have applied for one, also simplifies the procedure for notification of a change of address that must be submitted to the municipalities concerned. The system certainly makes things convenient. But convenience usually comes with risks.
When you get a copy of your certificate of residence, four items of personal data-name, address, sex and birthday-are added to the database. Information from the family relationships and family register are added when you submit a notice of moving to a new city or town.
Juki Net is equipped with safety mechanisms to protect such personal information, yet the danger of leaks and alteration of information cannot be completely eliminated in this highly networked society.
Some of the municipalities, including Tokyo's Nakano Ward, that refused to link their databases to the network because of security concerns, have decided to join after all, saying they have been reassured about the protection of personal information. But others, like the capital's Suginami Ward, continue to keep their computer systems off the network.
Nagano Prefecture is considering its own system for information protection, while Kanagawa Prefecture has asked the central government to supply computer security experts.
Their moves apparently reflect lingering anxiety about the security of Juki Net among local governments, which are actually in charge of managing residents' personal data.
One cautionary tale came when the "MS Blast'' virus, which spread around the globe, infected communications networks of some local governments, prompting Setagaya Ward in Tokyo to temporarily disconnect its system from the resident registry network as a precautionary step.
The central government has argued that Juki Net is immune to intrusion by outsiders because it is a closed system. In fact, however, the virus came very close to invading the network.
Similar worries attend Juki Card as well. The government's sales pitch is that the card, with a photo attached, can also serve as handy identification. But different designs adopted by local governments make the card less easy to use as identification than a driver's license.
The IC chip embedded in the card is designed to be able to store a wide variety of personal information, including one's medical data as well as the basic resident registration data.
The government plans to use this card as an electronic seal-registration certificate, or a sort of digital signature, for a new official authentication system that allows citizens to receive various administrative services at home via the Internet. But such expansion of the scope of the card's applications will inevitably enhance the risk of abuse.
As the start of full-scale operation increases security risks in Juki Net, people involved in the operation of the network or in charge of handling residents' personal information should carry out their tasks with greater care and discipline than ever before.
The government initially said the objectives of introducing this new resident data management system were better administrative services and higher administrative efficiency.
Only recently did it start stressing that the network will serve as the infrastructure for electronic government.
The envisioned integration of Juki Net into the e-government project could give more people concern about closer government scrutiny.
Given the persistent security concern, local governments and individual citizens should be given the choice of whether they put their information on the network or not. If that requires a revision in the Law of the Basic Resident Registers, the Diet should act quickly to take the necessary legal steps.
Quelle: asahi
