A bill was approved at a cabinet meeting on the 27th to create a "security clearance" system that would limit access to information important to economic security to those whose trustworthiness has been verified by the government.
In order to confirm the authenticity of the person, the government will investigate the person's family, criminal history, etc., assuming the person's consent.
According to a new bill approved by the Cabinet on the 27th, information on cyberattacks, information on vulnerabilities in supply chains, and other materials that, if leaked, could impede Japan's national security will be classified as "important." The information is designated as ``economic security information,'' and access to this information is limited to those whose reliability has been verified by the government, including employees of private companies.
In order to confirm the identity of the individual, the government will investigate the names and nationalities of family members and cohabitants, as well as criminal history, information on drugs and alcohol, and economic situation, with the consent of the individual.
If you leak important information, you will be sentenced to up to five years in prison, a fine of up to 5 million yen, and the company you work for can also be fined.
The government is aiming to pass this bill during the current regular session of the Diet, but there are voices from the business community who hope that the "security clearance" system will lead to improved reliability in corporate information management. It has also been pointed out that sufficient consideration must be given to privacy.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi: “Strengthen information security and expand business opportunities”
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said, ``Establishing a 'security clearance' system will strengthen Japan's information security and expand international business opportunities for Japanese companies. I would like to explain in detail, including during deliberations in the Diet, that we will firmly implement regulations that give due consideration to freedom of reporting."