Pursuant to Article 15, Paragraph 2 of the Act on Identification, etc. by Mobile Voice Communications Carriers of their Subscribers, etc. and for Prevention of Improper Use of Mobile Voice Communications Services (Act No. 31 of 2005; hereinafter "Act for Prevention of Improper Use of Mobile Phones"), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) today ordered Mini Max Co. (Nagai, Yamagata Prefecture) to stop violating the act.

Summary of Circumstances and Measures against the Agency

The Act for Prevention of Improper Use of Mobile Phones obliges mobile phone operators to confirm the identities of applicants when accepting new subscription applications.
In nine cases from April to May 2008, Mini Max Co. failed to identify the applicants and their agents through the procedures specified in the act, thereby violating Article 3, Paragraphs 1 and 2, as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 6, Paragraph 3 of the act. MIC thus today ordered the company to stop violating the act, pursuant to Article 15, Paragraph 2 of the act.

MIC will continue to strictly enforce the Act for Prevention of Improper Use of Mobile Phones to prevent improper use of mobile phones in crimes, including billing fraud.

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International Policy Division,
Global ICT Strategy Bureau, MIC
TEL: +81 3 5253 5920 / FAX: +81 3 5253 5924