January 27, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on Drafted Revisions to Enforcement Regulations of Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business and Relevant Notice

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) drafted revisions to the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business (MIC, MoJ, and METI Ordinance No. 2 of 2001), along with revisions to the Guidelines on the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business (MIC, MoJ, and METI Notice No. 2 of 2001).
Accordingly, the ministries have decided to make an appeal for opinions from Tuesday, January 28 through Wednesday, February 26, 2020, on the drafted revisions.

1. Background

According to Article 2, Paragraph 3 of the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business (Law No. 102 of 2000), the criteria specified for the security of electronic signatures by ordinances of the competent ministries shall be based on the difficulty of any of the items specified in Article 2 of Guidelines on the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business (MIC, MoJ, and METI Notice No. 2 of 2001).
The revisions are to review the encryption algorithm used for digital signatures related to specific certification services and revise the standards specified in the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business.

2. Targets of appeal for opinions

• Draft Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business
• Draft Guidelines on the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business

3. Period of submission

No later than Wednesday, February 26, 2020 (Opinions, if submitted by mail, must arrive no later than the same day.)

4. Future plans

MIC will promptly promulgate and enforce the revisions based on opinions received.