My Number system raises red flags in Japan ahead of notice release [View all]

[unhappycamper]

http://atimes.com/2015/10/my-number-system-raises-red-flags-in-japan-ahead-of-notice-release/

My Number system raises red flags in Japan ahead of notice release
By AT Editor on October 3, 2015
(From Japan Today)

Despite being trumpeted as ushering in a more efficient, egalitarian society, the government’s controversial My Number system that starts with identification numbers being sent out to residents of Japan next week is raising serious qualms about invasion of privacy and leakage of personal information, Kyodo reports.

These are not the only concerns, however. Others relate to the heavy burden the project will put on businesses that will be tasked with collecting the identification numbers of employees and part-time workers—not to mention their family dependents.

Add to this the fuss about how exactly a tax rebate proposal under the system will work, fears about photo-ID cards being lost, and question marks over whether municipalities are capable of handling the expected number of applications.

On Monday, all residents of the country, Japanese and foreign, will begin receiving by mail randomly generated 12-digit numbers that ideally will not change throughout their lifetimes.