harmonization of Radio-Radiation Protection among various countries.

With the expansion of radio usage, inappropriate use of radio frequencies by unlicensed radio stations has increased and a number of failures in radio usage have been reported. In order to conduct effective detection of unlicensed radio stations, the government has been developing the Detect Unlicensed Radio Stations (DEURASÂFDetect Unlicensed Radio Stations) since 1993.

# Section 3 Establishment of a Safe and Secure Ubiquitous Network Society

### 1. Consumer administration in relation to telecommunications services

## (1) Illegal and harmful information on the Internet

Illegal and harmful information on the internet is increasing social concerns in Japan. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has convened meetings of the Study Group to Address Illegal and Harmful Information on the Internet since August 2005 to deliberate on voluntary efforts of providers to tackle illegal and harmful information on the Internet and systems and measures to effectively support such efforts. Then, a finalized report was compiled in August 2006. Based on the proposals from the study group, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications continues to develop a network environment where the administration can support voluntary actions of providers and users against illegal and harmful information on the internet with due consideration to freedom of expression. For example, the Ministry assists the associations and others in the business to create and promote a guideline for proper operation of the Provider Liability Limitation Law, supports providers to voluntarily tackle illegal and harmful information on the internet, and disseminates and promotes the application of filtering.

## (2) Measures against nuisance e-mails

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has been and continues to take comprehensive measures against e-mails delivered to cellular phones and PCs unilaterally for advertisement and commercial purposes without consent of the receiver (so-called nuisance mails). These measures include effective enforcement of Law on Regulation of Transmission of Specified Electronic Mail promotion of a project to banish nuisance emails, technical solutions, and international cooperation.

## (3) Misuse of cellular phones

With rapid diffusion of cellular phones, cellular phone related crimes such as billing fraud or drug deals are becoming a social issue that needs to be addressed. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications address this issue by properly enforcing the “Law on Identification of Cellular Phone Users by Mobile Operators and Prevention of Abusive Use of Cellular Phones” (Fully enforced in April 2006)

## (4) Protection of personal information in the telecommunications field

With respect to protection of personal information encompassing all areas, the Law concerning the Protection of Personal Information became fully enforced in April 2005. To conduct proper enforcement of this law, the Nippon Information Communications Association and Secure Broadcasting Authorization and Research Center are the accredited organizations for protection of personal information in the telecommunication field and broadcasting field, respectively. In March 2007, a recommendation based on this law was made to a telecommunication service provider which caused a mass leakage of personal information (first time in the information and communication field).

For personal information protection in the telecommunication service field, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications revised Guidelines regarding the Protection of Personal Information in the Telecommunications Business in August 2004, and for the broadcasting field, formulated the “Guidelines concerning Protection of Personal Information of Broadcast Services Users” in August 2004 (enforced in April 2005). The guideline was reviewed and revised in March 2007 based on a final report, etc. from the Study Group on the Future Direction of Satellite Broadcasting (October 2006 to October 2007).

### 2. Promotion of Information Security Policy

(1) Information security measures of the government

The government has been promoting information security measures in a concerted manner by establishing