Concerns on My Number

The House of Representatives passed a bill for introducing personal number on each individual, which could be applied to bank account. Concerning illegal transfer of money, the measure will be used by the government to oversee personal monetary assets. New method of watching private activity, called My Number System, will sneak into life of ordinary nations.

My Number Act 2013 distributed each person twelve-digit number, which is correspondent to information of taxation, pension or social security. It was for simplifying public service or preventing tax evasion. With an amendment this fall, banks can connect personal bank account with My Number with approval of the account holder. The government will be able to access personal account information. If only a few people approve the connection, the government will consider obligatory connection for everyone.

It is frequent for the people in the country that already introduced personal number to suffer from false obtaining of personal number by someone. In United States, where social security number is necessary to open a bank account, cases of shopping with stolen number were reported. Although Japanese government introduced a penalty of up to ¥2 million or 4 years in prison for illegal theft of number, it is unclear whether the number will be perfectly controlled. Actually, vast amount of personal information was leaked from Japan Pension Service. Public services are not credible enough so far.

People are worried about how personal data will be used by the government. To deal with that broad concern, the government will raise a portal site, in which taxpayers or pension recipients can refer to how personal information was exchanged. But, law enforcement organization can send personal information for “public needs” without reference to the person. Excessive obtaining of personal data is always possible.

While My Number will be distributed to individuals next month, most people know nothing about the detail of the system. Nevertheless, employers will need to add My Number of their employees and their families on documents for taxation. In a survey by private firm, only 2.8% of middle or small business owners answered that they had finished the preparation. Troubles may occur with introduction of the system.

There must actually be merits of introducing My Number, in terms of smooth public service. But Japanese bureaucrats are not good at providing the people with accurate information. Without sincere explanation, credibility of the government will not be enhanced.