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Mike · Site Admin Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 4512 Location:

Gov't plans to require all foreigners to carry IC cards for crime control

TOKYO — The Japanese government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plan to require all foreigners staying in Japan for more than 90 days to carry identification cards equipped with integrated circuit chips, with all data to be kept at an "intelligence center," party lawmakers said Tuesday.

The LDP and the government claim the new policy is aimed at keeping track of foreigners as part of measures to prevent terrorism and crimes.
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Sasquatch Pilaf · Cohort Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 220 Location:

Fair enough.

Hewer · Centurion Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 545 Location:

I agree, fair enough. I have to carry one everywhere I go now anyway - it just doesn't have a chip in it.

Mike · Site Admin Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Posts: 4512 Location:

No invasion of privacy issues here?
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Hewer · Centurion Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 545 Location:

Not really. I think the benefit in this will outweigh the inconvenience I feel at being monitored. One could argue they have a right to do it uhm

If it were my own country I might be more concerned.

Besides I have nothing to hide Cool

Alan Stepney · Centurion Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 853 Location:

Most countries have , or are, introducing measures to keep track of, foreigners and / or their own citizens.

The standard excuse is "to prevent terrorism".

What you will never find is a decent and properly argued explanation of exactly HOW it will prevent terrorism.

It is the same as the US checking fngerprints of all arrivals.
IF they had the fingerprints of ALL terrorists, then it would be sensible.
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Hewer · Centurion Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 545 Location:

Interesting points there Alan. I suspect in many countries that seems to be the trend. There is a slightly different focus in Japan. The government wants to regulate the activities of Chinese and Korean residents. They have no qualms abut admitting this either Cool

Crimes permitted by Chinese nationals have been steadily increasing and measures were announced last week that will see police from China and Japan routinely exchange information occasion

One should be mindful of the stats though: according to the Ministry of Justice, there were 338,000 Chinese nationals living in Japan in 2003. in the same period, 3,038 crimes were committed by Chinese nationals. That's less than one percent even in the unlikely event that all 3038 crimes were committed by different people. There's actually a slightly lower crime rate among them than the Japanese themselves .....

andrew319 · Novice Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 43 Location:

hm... interesting..all my friends have AR cards... (but i dont since I'm Japanese / American and have Japanese nationality :p) Anywayz... that would be weird... IC Chipping them?

Doesn't Ishihara not like forgieners? <--one of my teachers is always like.... violent

about him
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Hewer · Centurion Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 545 Location:

andrew319 · Novice Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 43 Location:

Hewer · Centurion Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 545 Location:

toopeekaa 1 · Scribe Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 1934 Location:

Hewer · Centurion Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 545 Location:

Wocca · Scribe Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 970 Location:

A chip inserted into the wrist or ear lobe would be a simpler form of ID to carry
Shocked

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andrew319 · Novice Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 43 Location: