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Response to "Internet vigilantism prompts puzzle: Who owns the NRIC?", (The Straits Times, 03 May 2012)
The Straits Times
18 May 2012
Who owns your IC? ICA replies
THE Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is the issuing authority for the national registration identity card ('Internet vigilantism prompts puzzle: Who owns the NRIC?' by Ms Alice Mendoza; May 3).
The national registration identity card (NRIC) is an important document used for identification purposes. NRIC holders have the responsibility of safekeeping their NRICs and the information on it to avoid being potential victims of crime. Any person who knowingly obtains or has possession of or makes use of a forged identity card or an identity card other than his own is committing an offence and will be dealt with under the law.
Koh Wee Sing
Head, Public & Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
<Original Letter>
The Straits Times
03 May 2012
Internet vigilantism prompts puzzle: Who owns the NRIC?
WHO owns the photo on the national registration identity card (NRIC)? Is the image copyrighted, and who owns the content on the card itself, such as the identity card number and address and other details?
This issue is much less ambiguous for passports which, for most countries including Singapore, contain a note that the passport is the property of the government of the country that issues the document.
A Singapore identity card is a unique and important form of identifying the individual to whom the card has been issued.
If the personal details on the NRIC end up in the hands of other parties, and are possibly misused, who then can make a claim for such actions: the individual holder of the card, or the state?
If indeed it is the property of the state, then why is there not a notification on the NRIC that the card and its important details are the property of the Government?
When I called the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the customer service officer told me the NRIC belongs to me personally, but I must return it to the ICA if I give up my citizenship or my permanent residence status, and that, to quote the officer, 'in a way, it still belongs to us (the ICA)'.
An unambiguous statement of ownership is important, especially in view of the privacy of the identity card's details or in cases of Internet vigilantism, when people take it upon themselves to admonish or publicly shame perceived wrong-doers.
Alice Mendoza (Ms)
18 May 2012
Who owns your IC? ICA replies
THE Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is the issuing authority for the national registration identity card ('Internet vigilantism prompts puzzle: Who owns the NRIC?' by Ms Alice Mendoza; May 3).
The national registration identity card (NRIC) is an important document used for identification purposes. NRIC holders have the responsibility of safekeeping their NRICs and the information on it to avoid being potential victims of crime. Any person who knowingly obtains or has possession of or makes use of a forged identity card or an identity card other than his own is committing an offence and will be dealt with under the law.
Koh Wee Sing
Head, Public & Internal Communications
Corporate Communications Division, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
<Original Letter>
The Straits Times
03 May 2012
Internet vigilantism prompts puzzle: Who owns the NRIC?
WHO owns the photo on the national registration identity card (NRIC)? Is the image copyrighted, and who owns the content on the card itself, such as the identity card number and address and other details?
This issue is much less ambiguous for passports which, for most countries including Singapore, contain a note that the passport is the property of the government of the country that issues the document.
A Singapore identity card is a unique and important form of identifying the individual to whom the card has been issued.
If the personal details on the NRIC end up in the hands of other parties, and are possibly misused, who then can make a claim for such actions: the individual holder of the card, or the state?
If indeed it is the property of the state, then why is there not a notification on the NRIC that the card and its important details are the property of the Government?
When I called the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the customer service officer told me the NRIC belongs to me personally, but I must return it to the ICA if I give up my citizenship or my permanent residence status, and that, to quote the officer, 'in a way, it still belongs to us (the ICA)'.
An unambiguous statement of ownership is important, especially in view of the privacy of the identity card's details or in cases of Internet vigilantism, when people take it upon themselves to admonish or publicly shame perceived wrong-doers.
Alice Mendoza (Ms)