June 23, 2021 Administrative Guidance to SECOM Trust Systems Co., Ltd about Thorough Application for Accreditation of Modification related to Certification Business

SECOM Trust Systems Co., Ltd., an accredited certification business operator (headed by HAYASHI Keiji, President and Representative Director), neglected the application procedure for accreditation for a modification in the certification business required by the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business. Accordingly, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) have today provided administrative guidance to SECOM Trust Systems Co., Ltd. to implement measures to prevent recurrence and make improvements thoroughly.

Outline of the case and content of administrative guidance

MIC, MOJ, and METI (hereafter referred to as the “competent ministries”) accredit those who perform specified certification business that conforms to certain standards as accredited certification business operators under Article 4 of the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business (Act No. 102 of 2000, hereafter referred to as the “Act”).
Under Articles 9 and 6 of the Act, an accredited certification business operator shall predetermine a procedure for replacing the facility, including an encryption device (i.e., a hardware security module), used for certification business. Before changing the procedure, it is necessary to obtain accredit for the modification. Nevertheless, it was confirmed that SECOM Trust Systems Co., Ltd. had neglected the application procedure to obtain accreditation from the competent ministries without valid reasons.
The company applied for accreditation for the modification on May 25, 2021. However, the competent ministries accredited the modification on June 22, 2021, which means that the company had been in violation of the application obligation until the actual application was made. Therefore, the competent ministries have today provided the administrative guidance to the company to make improvements by thoroughly implementing measures to prevent recurrence and not violate the application obligation stipulated in the Act in the future. In addition, the competent ministries received a report from the company on establishing a check system to comply with the Act and not cause a situation violating the application obligation. The competent ministries also confirmed that there had been no influence on users regarding the company’s certification business operations before the company received the accreditation of competent ministries for the modification.
The competent ministries will ensure the smooth use of electronic signatures and promote the distribution and processing of information by electromagnetic means and continue striving for strict law enforcement that will form the basis of trust to contribute to improvements in people’s lives and the sound development of the national economy.