Measures Pertaining to Protection of Secrecy of Communications against NTT Broadband Platform, Inc. (NTT BP)(Administrative guidance)

1. Outline of Case

  Since December 15, 2011, MIC has required NTT BP to provide detailed explanations on the fact that it blocked communications to connect to specified websites along with the provision of public wireless LAN service provided by it based on the provision of Article 4 (secrecy of communications) of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984, hereinafter referred to as the Act).
  According to the explanation by NTT BP, the fact was found that said company blocked communications to connect to specified websites by users, without their permission and justifiable grounds, along with the provision of public wireless LAN service in major convenience stores, etc. and made it impossible for users to view said specified websites.
 

2. Measures based on the Telecommunications Business Act

  NTT BP learnt of communications being handled by a telecommunications carrier for the purpose of inhibiting connections to specified websites, and it did not connect a part of communications learnt to specified websites and connected them to other websites. This is recognized as the infringement against secrecy of communications provided in Article 4 of the Act.
  Therefore, MIC instructed NTT BP to compile measures for preventing the recurrence and report the status of their implementation.
 

3. Future Efforts

  MIC will continuously endeavor to provide necessary instructions and supervision to secure the protection of secrecy of communications being handled by a telecommunications carrier.