Japan Press Weekly

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2021 May 12 - 18 [POLITICS]

Digital reform bills enacted, allowing use of personal data 'for moneymaking'

A set of bills on digital reform was enacted on May 12 in the Diet by the majority vote of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Komei Party, and the "Nippon Ishin-no-Kai" party, putting priority on the utilization of personal data over privacy protection. The Japanese Communist Party voted against the bills.

In opposition to the bills, JCP member of the House of Councilors Ito Gaku in the Upper House plenary session said, "The bills will open the way for the use of private information for government's growth strategy and for the interests of for-profit companies without the consent of the person concerned."

Pointing out that the bills will enable the government to provide citizens' information to third parties without their consent, Ito criticized this as an infringement of people's right to privacy.

Ito noted that the government has been collecting personal data via its online service called "mynaportal". This service, however, is vulnerable to cyberattacks. He warned that once information leakage occurs it will bring about significant damage throughout the country.

Past related article:
> Suga gov’t digital reform goes counter to global trends in privacy protection [April 19, 2021]