benefits and widely examine international broadcasting policy in the prospect of future satellite broadcasting.

## (3) Advancement of cable television

The environment surrounding cable television has drastically changed in recent years, including the digitization of broadcasting and intensifying competition with telecommunications carriers due to the development of broadband networks, and problems are increasingly recognized.

Thus, in February 2006, MIC set up “the Study Group on Cable TV in the 2010s” to conduct discussions regarding perspectives on the cable television in the 2010s, future challenges, and comprehensive measures for the development of cable television, and the report is scheduled to be finalized by March 2007.

## Section 4

## ☑ Establishment of a Safe and Secure Network

## 1 Consumer administration in relation to telecommunications services

## (1) Efforts to counter illegal and harmful information on the Internet

While the rapid diffusion of Internet allows provision of various telecommunications services, the circulation of information that infringes the rights of others has increased. As an effort to counter this situation, “the Guideline for Defamation/Privacy based on the law concerning the Liability of Internet Service Providers” which had been compiled by “the Council on the Guidelines for the law concerning the Liability of Internet Service Providers” which comprised industry associations and experts was revised in October 2004. The Council also adopted “the Guideline for Trademark based on the law concerning the Liability of Internet Service Providers” in July 2005 which stipulates specific cases of trademark infringement, integrated procedures/formats of deletion requests to the hosting providers, and deletion requests via credibility confirmation organizations. In September of the same year, one credibility confirmation organization was accredited based on the Guidelines.

MIC had held “the Study Group on measures against Illegal and Harmful Information on the Internet” which comprised experts and telecommunication business associations since August 2005 to deliberate on voluntary efforts by hosting providers against illegal and harmful information on the Internet, and systems and measures to effectively support such efforts. The middle report was released in January 2006.

## (2) Measures against spam and phishing

Based on the Final Report of “the Study Group on a Framework to handle Spam,” MIC has been taking comprehensive measures against e-mails delivered to mobile phones and PCs for advertisement and commercial purposes without consent of receivers (so-called “spam”). These measures include (1) effective law enforcement by Government; (2) self-regulation by the private sector; (3) developing technologies; (4) enhancing awareness and (5) seeking international cooperation.

Against phishing which illicitly obtains personal information by luring mail receivers to access a fake Web site by disguising itself as a financial institution, MIC has held regularly “Contact Group to Promote Countermeasures Against Phishing” since January 2005 in cooperation with the Internet service providers (ISP) to share information and to deliberate on effective measures.

## (3) Measures against fraud

As a result of efforts to eliminate the anonymity of prepaid mobile phones which are often used for criminal purposes, mobile carriers have completed the verification of the subscribers of all prepaid mobile phones currently in operation by 31 March 2006 and have also ter-