December 6, 2021 Appeal for Information on Research and Development of Technologies related to Access Control Functions

The National Police Agency (NPA), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) have been announcing the status of the occurrence of unauthorized access activities and status of the research and development of technologies for access control functions. This announcement is based on the provisions of Article 10, Paragraph 1 of the Act on the Prohibition of Unauthorized Computer Access (Act No. 128 of 1999, hereafter referred to as the “Unauthorized Computer Access Act”).
In this connection, the above authorities will make an appeal for information from today through Friday, January 21, 2022, on information on the research and development of technologies related to access control functions to be published in the public domain.

1. Overview

It is necessary to establish an environment that makes it difficult for unauthorized access to occur for the prevision of crimes related to computers committed through telecommunications lines and maintenance of order in telecommunications realized by access control functions.
Accordingly, the NPA, MIC, and METI have been announcing information on the occurrence of unauthorized access and the status of research and development of technologies related to access control functions. This announcement is based on Article 10, Paragraph 1 of the Unauthorized Computer Access Act. Regarding the status of the research and development of technologies related to access control functions, those voluntarily conducted by the private sector are also subject to disclosure. Therefore, the NPA, MIC, and METI have decided to make this appeal for information on this research and development^*1.

• *
  1. The NPA, MIC, and METI make a press release on this subject.

[Reference] Act on the Prohibition of Unauthorized Computer Access (excerpt)

Article 10 The National Public Safety Commission, Minister for Internal Affairs and Telecommunications, and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry shall, to help protect specified computers with an access control feature from acts of unauthorized computer access, publicize the status of the occurrence of acts of unauthorized computer access and progress of research and development on technology relating to access control features at least once a year.
2 and 3 (Omitted)

2. Subjects of appeal for opinions and pertinent conditions

1. Subjects of appeal

The following six types of access control technologies^*2 are targeted.

• 1.
  Intrusion detection and prevention technology
• 2.
  Vulnerability countermeasure technology
• 3.
  Advanced authentication technology
• 4.
  Incident analysis technology
• 5.
  Anti-malware program technology
• 6.
  Other technologies related to access control functions

The target technology range does not include those under research and development. It should be noted that the range covers only those already completed and can be used or already in use^*3.
Besides, the target technology range does not cover projects implemented with the budget of the NPA, MIC, or METI.

• *2
  These technology types are related to the electronic access control of network-connected computers and do not include physical security measures.
• *3
  This appeal is for an overview of access control technology and not for product names or commercial product names.

2. Submission period

From Monday, December 6, 2021, and no later than Friday, January 21, 2022^*4

• *4
  Opinions submitted by postal mail must arrive no later than the same day.

3. Procedure for appeal

• *
  The published material is in Japanese only.

3. Future plans

MIC will select information on research and development from submitted ideas and make the selected technologies public around March 2022.