September 19, 2023 Report from the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council on the Designation of Providers of Search Information Telecommunications Services and Intermediary Telecommunications Services

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) sent an inquiry to the Information and Communications and Posts Administrative Council on the designation of providers of search information telecommunications services and intermediary telecommunications services based on Article 164, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984, hereafter referred to as the “Act”) and Article 59-2 of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (Ministerial Ordinance of MPT No. 25 of 1985, hereafter referred to as the “Regulations”).
In response, MIC received a report today confirming the appropriateness of the proposed designations.
Based on this report, MIC will promptly issue a Notice to designate providers of search information telecommunications services and intermediary telecommunications services.

1. Background

MIC submitted a bill to partially amend the Telecommunications Business Act to the 208th Diet session to improve systems for properly handling information on users in light of changes in the environment surrounding the telecommunications business. After the passage of the bill, the Act Partially Amending the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 70 of 2022, hereafter referred to as the “Amended Act”) was enacted on Friday, June 17, 2022. Based on the Amended Act, MIC has issued the Ministerial Ordinance to Partially Amend the Regulations for Enforcement of the Telecommunications Business Act (Ministerial Ordinance of MIC No. 2 of 2023, hereafter referred to as the “Amended Ministerial Ordinance”) and the Amended Act and the Amended Ministerial Ordinance came into effect on Friday, June 16 of this year.
This Notice is to designate those who provide search information telecommunications services and intermediary telecommunications services in accordance with the provisions of Article 164, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Amended Act and Article 59-2 of the Regulations, following the enforcement of the Amended Act and the Amended Ministerial Ordinance.

2. Purpose

With the enforcement of the Amended Act and the Amended Ministerial Ordinance, by designating those who provide search information telecommunications services or intermediary telecommunications services by the Notice of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, telecommunications businesses pertaining to such telecommunications services provided by those designated will fall under the scope of the Act. Designated parties are required to file telecommunications carrier notifications.

3. Future plans

MIC plans to promptly enact the Notice based on this report and other relevant factors.

*The published materials are in Japanese only.