December 18, 2020 Appeal for Opinions on a Draft Report of the Study Meeting on the Time Stamp Certification System and Drafted Rules on the Certification of Time Authentication Business

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) drafted a set of rules on the certification of time authentication business that establish standards for Japan’s time stamp certification system based on a draft report of the Study Meeting on the Time Stamp Certification System. Accordingly, MIC will make an appeal for opinions on the draft report and the drafted rules from Saturday, December 19 through Friday, January 22, 2021.

1. Background

The working group on review of trust service was organized under the Study Group on Platform Service from January of last year to February of this year. Then the working group on review of trust service proposed the establishment of a national time stamp certification system. In response, MIC organized the Study Group on Time Stamp Certification System in March of this year to study the standards of the national certification system of time stamp.
Accordingly, MIC has decided to make an appeal for opinions on the draft report of the Study Meeting on the Time Stamp Certification System as a summary of the discussions so far at this study group, along with the drafted rules on the certification of time authentication business.

2. Appeal for opinions

• Draft Report of the Study Meeting on the Time Stamp Certification System
• Drafted Rules on the Certification of Time Authentication Business

3. Period of submission

No later than Friday, January 22, 2021 (Opinions, if submitted by mail, must arrive no later than the same day.)

4. Future plans

The draft report of the Study Meeting on the Time Stamp Certification System will be finalized promptly with consideration of opinions received. Furthermore, the finished rules on the certification of time authentication business will be promulgated and enforced promptly based on the contents of the finished report and opinions received.