citizens to easily use Public and Private Sector Data held by themselves via the Internet or any other advanced information and telecommunications network while ensuring that the rights and interests of individuals and corporations, national security, etc. are not damaged." Under this law, more data is expected to be made open to public.

### A. Revised Act on the Protection of Personal Information

In September 2015, the revised Act on the Protection of Personal Information was enacted. The revisions include the clarification of the definition of personal information, the introduction of an anonymously processed information system, a requirement for confirming and recording the provision of personal information to third parties, the establishment of the Personal Information Protection Commission and the addition of new provisions on the provision of personal data to third parties in foreign countries. Although Japan had not had any independent specialized organization empowered to supervise the handling of personal information, competent ministers' authorities to supervise personal information handling business operators have been unified and transferred to the Personal Information Protection Commission, resolving such problems as overlapping supervision and unclear competent agencies. Another key point is that the revised law defines personal information processed into anonymous data as “anonymously processed information” and allows the anonymous data to be utilized for purposes other than originally intended ones or provided to third parties without consent from original data providers. The anonymously processed information system aims to promote personal data utilization including data transactions between business operators and linking data and is expected to contribute to creating new businesses and services and improving the convenience of people’s life.

### B. Basic Act on the Advancement of Utilizing Public and Private Sector Data

In December 2016, the Basic Act on the Advancement of Utilizing Public and Private Sector Data was enacted, promulgated and implemented. Under the recognition that Japan should further develop the environment that contributes to solving problems faced by Japan, such as responses to rapid progress in the decline of birth rates and the aging of population, by utilizing a wide variety and a great deal of information that is circulated via the Internet and other advanced ICT networks, the law aims to comprehensively and effectively promote measures for the appropriate and effective promotion of public and private sector data utilization and thereby contribute to realizing a society in which citizens can safely live free of anxiety and in a comfortable living environment.

## (2) Present Domestic Discussions and Government Policy

In line with the abovementioned legislative actions, Japanese government agencies have proceeded with discussions on data distribution and utilization.

### A. Declaration to be the World's Most Advanced IT Nation and Basic Plan for the Advancement of Utilizing Public and Private Sector Data

On May 30, 2017, the Declaration to be the World's Most Advanced IT Nation and Basic Plan for the Advancement of Utilizing Public and Private Sector Data was formulated. This document covers the earlier Declaration to be the World's Most Advanced IT Nation and a basic plan as stipulated in the Basic Act on the Advancement of Utilizing Public and Private Sector Data, calling for promoting priority measures toward 2020 for eight priority areas – electronic administration, health/healthcare/nursing care, tourism, finance, agriculture/forestry/fisheries, manufacturing, infrastructure and disaster prevention/reduction, and transportation.

### B. Growth Strategy 2017

On June 9, 2017, the Cabinet decided on the Growth Strategy 2017 as a new strategy. The strategy points out that thorough data utilization is one of the keys to putting technology innovation achievements of the fourth industrial revolution into society to dramatically increase productivity and that future investment should be accelerated in developing data infrastructure as new social infrastructure. It thus calls for developing data utilization infrastructure. The strategy also refers to the Basic Act on the Advancement of Utilizing Public and Private Sector Data and the Basic Plan for the Advancement of Utilizing Public and Private Sector Data, seeking to comprehensively and effectively promote the utilization of public and private sector data mainly in the abovementioned eight priority areas.

### C. Comprehensive IoT Strategy $ ^{14} $

The Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications compiled a comprehensive IoT strategy $ ^{15} $ in January 2017. It points out that Japan should learn lessons from its failure to get on the wave of the ICT revolution as the third industrial revolution and achieve such economic growth as seen in the United States through ICT investment expansion and should take all possible policy measures to survive global competition under the ongoing fourth industrial revolution. The strategy then summarizes measures for four layers – terminals, networks, platforms and services (data distribution).