Forum: Move to unmask NRIC numbers is a step backwards
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I refer to the articles on unmasking of NRIC numbers ( Concerns raised over ease of accessing NRIC numbers from Acra portal Acra disables search function for NRIC numbers on portal for now
Some years ago when the Personal Data Protection Act was introduced, masking NRIC numbers was made a big thing and significant penalties were threatened for contravening the confidentiality of the NRIC for unauthorised use.
Now we are told that masking NRIC numbers is useless as they can be reverse-engineered, even from the last four characters.
While one can certainly make a good guess at the full NRIC number from the masked number, masking the number has served its purpose of protecting people’s identities and important identifiers in this age of social media and excessive intrusiveness into personal spaces.
One major outcome of masking NRIC numbers had been that businesses with no business to collect a customer’s NRIC number could no longer ask for it. They have now pivoted to collecting a customer’s mobile phone number (which the customer can change).
Moving to unmasking NRIC numbers is a step backwards.
The analogy is locking the door of your home. A determined criminal can still gain access to a locked residence, but a lock serves as a deterrent so that amateurs and opportunists cannot easily do the same.
Unmasking NRIC numbers will merely facilitate bad actors in misusing the NRIC.
Daniel Yeo (Dr)
