By Naonobu Nishimoto

　　　The national resident registry network is a system from which anyone can take out personal data held by the nationwide registry. Although this system was launched in August, various anomalies have been pointed out and arguments both for and against are still being raised. The main problems of this ordinance are that there is no penalty rule against the leakage of personal data, and that there is a rule which forbids the release of the user-record of personal data to the person himself.

　　　Actually, soon after the system went into effect, an accident happened: mail with personal data sent by a certain city office was mistakenly delivered to a different address. When we think how many blunders like these may be happening under the surface, we feel a chill go down our spine. Anticipating various malpractices, Yokohama City, and other cities and prefectures like Asahikawa and Tottori refused to commit themselves fully to the new system. Yokohama agreed to join the new network if the citizens individually chose to and the fact was that twenty percent of people rejected joining the system. We must say that the merit of introducing the new system has been rather tarnished.

　　　Next, we must consider the possibilities of misuse of this system. Before the new system came into operation, quite a lot of black marketers bought personal data from the registry and used the data unlawfully. For example, they sent out direct mail advertising elementary and junior high school uniforms, correspondence courses, health foods, cosmetics for women, and the like. It is dangerous to have introduced this network system where we have a situation like this in which personal data is being easily leaked to strangers.

　　　Legally speaking, we can in principle see parts of the copies of the resident registry. But, if any case is seen as an action for delivering or selling the resident registry to the public, mayors of the municipality can forbid the public to read the documents. However, the penalty for violation of the law is only one hundred thousand yen or less. We discover how little information leakage is thought of compared with traders' benefits earned by unjust means. It is really deplorable that personal data, such as address, phone number, birth date, etc., can actually purchased for only several hundred yen.

　　　In a situation where data management had not been properly carried out under the old system, the introduction of this controversial new network system may increase the possibilities that it will be used illegally , which is why there are quite a few who do not wholeheartedly agree with the idea of this network. This new system, however, not only has demerits; it has the merit of making clerical work and data management very easy. Here, we must think that the best result will not be achieved if we are intent on immediate profit without paying any respect to the needs and feelings of individuals. It seems that the government managed to launch this national resident registry network too hastily. Before enforcing this new system, they should have had wider visions on the matter and should have sought to get a much larger consensus.

　　　We citizens wish that the agency practices appropriate data management, while, at the same time we ourselves must understand this system well.

　　　We also, though our efforts may, because of the legal limits, be insufficient, have to pay attention to ensure that our personal data will not be illegally used.