Personal number Management : personal numbers and identity fraud – number strategies for security and privacy in an information society - part 1

Abstract

For the sake of clarity and manageability, this article is in the form of a checklist. It will be published in two parts. The first part in this issue presents some practical and juridical characteristics of personal number systems. But at the end of the day, it is the number strategy that matters. The second part in the next issue, therefore, covers some important aspects of any number strategy and presents a step-by-step plan for the choice, design or assessment of number systems and strategies. Within the Dutch government there is a discussion going on about the introduction of a general personal number for compulsory use by every government agency or any private organization with a public task. The main conclusion of the analysis in this article is, however, that such a number strategy is not good enough for a complex information society. Sectoral personal numbers are the cornerstones of safety and privacy.They should not be put at stake. This article has the Dutch situation in mind, but the analysis and conclusions apply to many other democratic jurisdictions as well.