Policy & Internet

Manuscript Title

The Development of Japanese Data Protection

Authors

Andrew A. Adams, Meiji University
Kiyoshi Murata, Meiji University
Yohko Orito, Ehime University

Abstract

In 2003, Japan enacted its first private-sector data protection legislation, complementing the concurrent update of the public-sector regulations. The publicly stated goal of the Japanese government was to support trade with Europe by providing suitably strong protection to qualify for European data-export approval. In this paper we examine the internal social and political pressures that led to the adoption of apparently strong private-sector data protection, despite prior long resistance to such a move. The pressures we have identified include direct and indirect effects of Japanese economic difficulties since the early 1990s, media pressure to update public-sector rules because of the introduction of Juki Net, and similar media pressure to apply similar rules to the private sector. We also examine the role that the technology of kanji input systems played on the lack of urgency in demands for private-sector data protection until 2000.

Recommended Citation

Adams, Andrew A.; Murata, Kiyoshi; and Orito, Yohko (2010) "The Development of Japanese Data Protection," Policy & Internet: Vol. 2: Iss. 2, Article 5.
DOI: 10.2202/1944-2866.1038
Available at: http://www.psocommons.org/policyandinternet/vol2/iss2/art5

Erratum

On page 97 and page 100, the citation text currently reads: "(Act on the Protection of Personal Information 2003; Act on the Protection of Personal Information Held by Administrative Organs 2003; Act on the Protection of Personal Information Held by Independent Administrative Agencies 2003; etc.)" The text should read: "(Act on the Protection of Personal Information 2003; Act on the Protection of Personal Information Held by Administrative Organs 2003; Act on the Protection of Personal Information Held by Independent Administrative Agencies 2003)"

On page 118, the second sentence of the third paragraph currently reads: "However, a few months later in December 2000, a Japanese Cabinet Office official had a meeting..." The text should read: "However, a few months later in December 2000, Japanese Cabinet Office representatives had a meeting..."