The government launched a nationwide resident registry network Monday, with several municipalities refusing to join it. The controversial system, known as Juki Net, has many people wondering whether it is designed to promote convenience for residents or to tighten the government's grip on basic personal data.

Juki Net assigns an 11-digit identification code to every resident throughout the country so that personal data, such as name, address, date of birth and sex, can be transmitted online from local government to central government offices. The network allows people to obtain resident certificates anywhere in the country by simply presenting their ID cards.

Trying to allay public fears about the possible abuse of data, Home Affairs Minister Toranosuke Katayama has said the government is taking "adequate security and privacy precautions." It remains to be seen, however, whether these measures are sufficient to prevent leaks from the government database and other irregularities. The government says Juki Net will improve administrative efficiency at both the national and the local level. But the boycott by six municipalities, including Tokyo's Suginami Ward, demonstrates that many residents are worried about possible security lapses and privacy violations.