Japan's My Number identity system underwent a massive voluntary phase-out operation, successfully eliminating approximately 930,000 cards. This move aligns with citizens' wishes who are concerned about data privacy issues. It also marks a significant shift in governmental policy, reflecting public sentiment around data usage and privacy questions.

In Japan, the My Number system is a national identification number system. It has faced significant controversy due to potential data privacy issues. Public sentiment increasingly presses the government to remain cautious with personal information, leading to this voluntary phase-out.

In contrast, identification systems in the US or EU are not often voluntarily phased out, and carry less controversy. However, discussions on data privacy and government data use are gaining traction worldwide, making this a relevant topic globally.