March 27, 2025
Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Shiokawa Tetsuya on March 26 at a House of Representatives Cabinet Committee meeting pointed to the possibility that a bill on “active cyber defense” to allow for the constant collection and monitoring of citizens’ correspondence information could result in the acquisition and use of personal data without obtaining user consent.
The bill under discussion states that the government may enter into agreements with private businesses, including key infrastructure providers and home appliance makers, to have them provide correspondence information.
Shiokawa asked if the government would gain the consent of infrastructure users in regard to the provision of their personal information.
Cabinet Secretariat Councilor Koyanagi Seiji replied, “It will be difficult to obtain consent from individual users.”
Shiokawa further asked whether, if the parties to the agreement agree, the information could be used for purposes other than preventing damage caused by cyberattacks. Koyanagi replied that that is correct.
When Shiokawa asked if that would apply with the necessary changes having been made to the police and the Self-Defense Forces, Koyanagi replied that it would.
Shiokawa pointed out that the police and the SDF could use the acquired correspondence data for their own operations unrelated to prevention of damage from cyberattacks.
In response, Minister for Digital Transformation Taira Masaaki said, “The purpose of use is not necessarily limited to specific damage prevention.”
Shiokawa expressed concern, saying, “The acquired information could be used for the purpose of monitoring civic organizations and social movements.” He stated that the use of the information for unintended purposes, the provision of the information to third parties, and the overseas transfer of the information behind users’ backs are all violations of the principle of personal information protection.
Past related article:
> JCP Shiokawa criticizes bill on active cyber defense for violating Constitution [March 19, 2025]
The bill under discussion states that the government may enter into agreements with private businesses, including key infrastructure providers and home appliance makers, to have them provide correspondence information.
Shiokawa asked if the government would gain the consent of infrastructure users in regard to the provision of their personal information.
Cabinet Secretariat Councilor Koyanagi Seiji replied, “It will be difficult to obtain consent from individual users.”
Shiokawa further asked whether, if the parties to the agreement agree, the information could be used for purposes other than preventing damage caused by cyberattacks. Koyanagi replied that that is correct.
When Shiokawa asked if that would apply with the necessary changes having been made to the police and the Self-Defense Forces, Koyanagi replied that it would.
Shiokawa pointed out that the police and the SDF could use the acquired correspondence data for their own operations unrelated to prevention of damage from cyberattacks.
In response, Minister for Digital Transformation Taira Masaaki said, “The purpose of use is not necessarily limited to specific damage prevention.”
Shiokawa expressed concern, saying, “The acquired information could be used for the purpose of monitoring civic organizations and social movements.” He stated that the use of the information for unintended purposes, the provision of the information to third parties, and the overseas transfer of the information behind users’ backs are all violations of the principle of personal information protection.
Past related article:
> JCP Shiokawa criticizes bill on active cyber defense for violating Constitution [March 19, 2025]
