# Protecting Information and Communications Users

### 1. Protecting Telecommunications Users

Telecommunications, such as cell phones and the Internet, have become indispensable forms of social infrastructure in people’s lives. At the same time, however, improper use of such media in a manner that disturbs others has been becoming a serious issue. Accordingly, the MPHPT has been establishing necessary systems to deal with problems for consumers that are caused by improper use of telecommunications. As a countermeasure for spam (unsolicited e-mail), the “Law on Regulation of Transmission of Specified Electronic Mail” entered into force in July 2002. The first order to take an appropriate action was given to an illegal Tokyo-based operator in December 2002. As a measure to counter malicious “wangiri” calls (random single-ring calls by commercial businesses aimed at making profits on return calls) to cellular phones, the “Study Group on Approaches to Dealing with Nuisance Communications” was held from August 2002, and a report was compiled in October 2002. In response to the report, the MPHPT submitted to the Diet a bill partially amending the Wire Telecommunications Law to establish penal provisions for “wangiri” calls in October 2002; this bill was approved and enacted in December 2002. Moreover, as the casting of aspersions and the infringement of privacy of others on Web pages and BBS have come to present serious problems, the “Law on Restrictions on the Liability for Damages of Specified Telecommunications Service Providers and the Right to Demand Disclosure of Identity Information of the Sender” was enforced in May 2002 to deal with such a situation. The MPHPT also holds Liaison Meetings for Supporting Telecommunications Consumers among other activities to enhance and increase administrative steps for consumer protection.

### 2. Promoting Measures for Information Security and Privacy Protection

## (1) Efforts toward ensuring information security

The progress of information technology (IT) could bring immense benefits to people’s lives and economic activities on one hand, but on the other, attacks on information and communications could cause serious damages to the entire society because society is becoming highly dependent on information and communications systems. At the end of January 2003, a large-scale Internet failure occurred in the Republic of Korea and other countries. Since bolstering information security measures is indispensable in promoting IT strategies in the future, the MPHPT has been taking actions including: [1] research and development of network security technologies; [2] investigation and study of secure operating systems; [3] formulation of guidelines on wireless Internet security; and [4] measures against unauthorized access. Furthermore, the MPHPT launched the “IT Security Site for Citizens” in March 2003 in order to raise public awareness of information security among the general public.

The IT security measures for the entire government are mainly devised by the IT Security Promotion Committee and the IT Security Expert Meeting established in the IT Strategic Headquarters. As for the measures against “cyber terrorism” for protecting important infrastructures including information and communications systems, the “Special Action Plan on Countermeasures to Cyber Terrorism of Critical Infrastructure” was formulated in December 2000. The activities based on the Special Action Plan have been strengthened and promoted from May 2002.

## (2) Protecting personal information in the telecommunications business field

In the advanced information and communications network society in which digitized data are promptly distributed via networks, protection of personal information is becoming more important than ever. Since there have been incidents of leakage of personal information in the telecommunications business field in recent years, there is a strong demand for securer protection of personal information in this field. As a legal system for protection of personal information, the government submitted a “Bill on the Protection of Personal Information,” which comprehensively covered all fields, to the 156th session of the Diet; this bill was enacted in May 2003.

## (3) Securing safety/reliability of telecommunications

Due to the dramatic changes in the telecommunications field, there is a growing need to consider policies for ensuring important telecommunications responding to the development of communications services and diversification in modes of use. Therefore, the MPHPT has held the “Study Group for Ensuring Important Telecommunications in the Telecommunications Business” since April 2002.