December 24, 2004

Ministry of Internal Affairs and
Communications

Legal measures for the protection of personal information in the telecommunications business field




The Study Group Concerning Information Privacy in the Telecommunications Business Field (chaired by Prof. HORIBE Masao, Chuo University) has compiled and is announcing a report concerning legal measures for the protection of personal information in the telecommunications business field.

1. Actions to date for the protection of personal information in the telecommunications business field:
With regard to the Guidelines on the Protection of Personal Information in the Telecommunications Business, the Study Group Concerning Information Privacy in the Telecommunications Business Field has been aiming to make these into the Guidelines that reflect the expectations that people, and users in particular, have towards telecommunications carriers for standards of protection of personal information. And so, there were debates concerning the amendment to the Guidelines, and the study group compiled and announced on August 13, 2004, the interim report from the Study Group Concerning Information Privacy in the Telecommunications Business Field (concerning the amendment to the Guidelines on the Protection of Personal Information in the Telecommunications Business). Based on the report, the MIC made an announcement on August 31, 2004, concerning the amendment of the Guidelines (MIC Announcement No. 695 of 2004).

2. Legal measures for the protection of personal information in the telecommunications business field:
This study group has also conducted an investigation concerning the necessity for legal measures for the protection of personal information in the telecommunications business field, and has recently compiled a report.

For details refer to the Japanese web site
http://www.soumu.go.jp/s-news/2004/041224_1.html

For further information about this press release, please contact:

International Policy Division, International Affairs Department
Telecommunications Bureau
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Tel: (03) 5253-5920 Fax: (03) 5253-5924

Or visit
http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/eng/contact.html to fill in the inquiry form.