December 5, 2022 Solicitation of Information on Research and Development of Technology 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) publicize the status of the occurrence of unauthorized access activities and status of the research and development of technologies for access control functions, pursuant to Article 10, Paragraph 1 of the Act on Prohibition of Unauthorized Computer Access (Act No. 128 of 1999, hereinafter referred to as the "Unauthorized Computer Access Act").
Accordingly, the above authorities will solicit information from today through Friday, January 20, 2023 regarding the research and development of technologies related to access control functions for inclusion in the published material.

1. Overview

It is necessary to establish an environment that makes it difficult for unauthorized computer access to occur in order to prevent crime related to computers committed through telecommunications lines and maintain order in telecommunications by means of access control functions.
Accordingly, the NPA, MIC, and METI publicize information on the status of the occurrence of acts of unauthorized computer access and progress of research and development on technologies relating to access control functions, pursuant to Article 10, Paragraph 1 of the Unauthorized Computer Access Act. As the scope of this information includes details regarding research and development of technologies relating to access control functions undertaken at the private sector's initiative, these three authorities have decided to solicit information about such research and development from a wide range of sources.^*1

• *1
  Press releases on this subject are issued by the NPA, MIC, and METI.

2 and 3 (Omitted)

2. Subjects of solicitation of information, etc.

(1) Subjects of solicitation of information

Information is sought concerning the following six types of access control technologies.^*2

• (i).
  Intrusion detection and prevention technology
• (ii).
  Technology to combat vulnerabilities
• (iii).
  Advanced authentication technology
• (iv).
  Incident analysis technology
• (v).
  Anti-malware technology
• (vi).
  Other technologies related to access control functions

The scope of this appeal for information includes only technologies already completed that are available for or already in use, and does not include technologies still in the process of research and development.^*3
Also excluded from the scope of the appeal for information are projects implemented with budget funding from the NPA, MIC, or METI.

• *2
  These types of technology relate to electronic access controls for network-connected computers and do not include physical security measures.
• *3
  The information sought is an overview of access control technologies, not product names or commercial product names.

(2) Submission period

From Monday, December 5, 2022 through Friday, January 20, 2023.^*4

• *4
  Information submitted by postal mail must also arrive no later than the deadline.

3. Future plans

MIC will select information on research and development from among the submissions and aims to publicize it in March 2023.

4. How to obtain reference information

The reference information will be posted on the "Press Release" page of MIC's website at around 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 5, and will also be made available for viewing and obtaining copies at the Office of the Director-General for Cybersecurity, MIC.

• *
  The published materials are in Japanese only.