tion services and penetration of terminals with GPS functions.

### B. Formulation/revision of the Guidelines concerning Protection of Personal Information of Broadcast Receivers

The MIC formulated the Guidelines concerning the Protection of Personal Information of Broadcast Receivers in August 2006 after the fully-fledged enforcement of the Private Information Protection Law in April 2005. These guidelines were reviewed in July 2007 in line with the changes that occurred after the enforcement, and were partially revised with respect to the following two points: (1) clarifying who may acquire personal information of viewers, etc., and (2) safe handling of the personal information recorded on a reception device.

### 2. Promotion of information security policy

## (1) Information security measures of the government

Japan’s efforts for information security issues have been enhanced, with the setting up of the National Information Security Centre (NISC) in the Cabinet Office in April 2005 and the establishment of the Information Security Council in the IT Strategy Headquarters in May 2005.

In February 2006, the Information Security Council developed the First National Strategy on Information Security, which is a medium- and long-term strategy covering the three years from 2006 to 2008, and in February 2009, the Second National Strategy on Information Security covering the three years from 2009 to 2011. Also, based on this plan, Secure Japan 2009 was finalized in June 2009.

## (2) Realization of an environment for safe and secure use of the Internet

Based on the u-Japan policy and the Second Information Security Basic Plan, etc., the MIC has been making efforts toward responding to diversified products and the improvement of human and organizational capacities that would lead to the enhancement and increased reliability of networks which, from the standpoint of a competent ministry in the ICT field, is one of the most important infrastructures, in order to develop an environment where people can use information and communications networks safely.

## (3) Ensuring safety and reliability in the telecommunications services

As IP telephony networks advance and the use of various new IP-related services expands, IP service-related communications interferences have been occurring more frequently, and they are also larger in scale and longer in duration.

In order to respond to these changes, deliberations have been conducted at the Information and Communications Council, and the MIC received a partial report titled Safety/Reliability Measures for IP Based Networks in May 2007 and Safety and Reliability Standards for IP Based Networks in January 2008 from the council. Based on these, the MIC set up the IT Network Management Human Resources Study Group in April 2008 with the aim of collecting opinions and views on the system management of the network with advancing IP and related human resources activities, and the final report was prepared and announced in February 2009. The report examined the skills of chief telecommunications engineers responding to the advancement of IP and reviewed the certification exam for chief telecommunications engineers.

### 3. Ensuring reliability of electronic data

In order to promote socio-economic activities further, using a network such as e-commerce and ensuring a smooth user environment for electronic signatures attached to electronic data, the Law concerning Electronic Signature and Certification Services has been enforced since April 2001 in Japan. As of the end of April 2009, 18 specific certification services have been accredited.

The “time business” (a collective term for the Time Authority and Time Stamp Authority) is becoming increasingly important. This includes time stamps attached to electronic data that would improve reliability at the time of creating electronic data that is distributed and stored in the field of e-commerce and associated services. The MIC has been actively making efforts to promote the use of time business by formulating and releasing the Guidelines concerning Time Business in November 2004.