Photo/Illutration A sample My Number Card (Provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)

When children are torn, say, between the latest video game console or an animal encyclopedia for their birthday, their parents usually know it would not be wise to try to impose their own preference--the picture book--on their children.

Instead, many parents might try to cajole their children into choosing the book by saying something like it would be fun for a long time, while weighing the financial impacts of the two options. Adults are cunning.

The parents lead their children to choose the one they, not the children, prefer while making their children believe they have made the decision on their own.

This tactic is only humorous if it concerns choices of birthday presents involving children and their parents. It could be a serious matter if it concerns a major policy issue, however, such as the government’s plan to scrap the current health insurance certificate and replace it with the Individual Number Card, known more popularly as the My Number Card.

Various revisions to the so-called My Number law for the use of personal identification numbers for administrative purposes passed the Diet during this year’s regular session, which recently ended. It is still up to the individual whether to acquire a My Number Card, according to the government, but the reality is not so simple.

Those who opt to not acquire the My Number Card when the health insurance certificate system is terminated will need to obtain a coverage certificate to receive health care services under the public health insurance program. The certificate will have to be renewed every year.

Such a requirement clearly indicates the government’s desire to pressure people into switching to the My Number Card by making it inconvenient to go without one.

The government’s priority policy program for realizing a digital society, which the Cabinet recently endorsed, also calls for integrating the maternal and child health handbook with the My Number Card. People will also need the card when applying for job-placement services at Hello Work public employment security offices.

The scope of administrative procedures that requires the card will be expanded to include public library cards and class attendance management at national universities.

While taking a series of measures to make life difficult for those who do not apply for the card, the government seems to be running away from bearing responsibility for such problems, saying matter-of-factly it is up to each person whether to acquire the card.

If that is the case, the government is being quite crafty and unfair, and such high-handed tactics will only provoke a public backlash.

I found a highly reasonable and convincing argument concerning the issue. It is important for the government to ensure that digitizing administrative procedures for online processing and management will “not become its own goal.”

This passage is in none other than the government’s document for promoting a digital society. Taro Kono, the minister for digital transformation, should carefully read it again.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 25

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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