At the beginning of the new year, the debate over the Telecommunications Business Law seems to be stormy - Club Information Bureau
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Today, we would like to introduce a popular article from the ASCII Club, "At the beginning of the new year, the debate over the Telecommunications Business Law seems to be stormy".
A fierce debate is likely to occur over the revision of the Telecommunications Business Law.
This law is a law that provides detailed provisions for businesses related to telecommunications such as mobile phones and landline phones.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is considering tightening regulations on cybersecurity measures and data handling, but on December 17, 2021, the Japan Association of New Economy expressed "concerns" about this direction.
Communication is an important infrastructure that is indispensable in a highly digitalized society, permeating all fields, such as exchanging information between individuals and companies, shopping, and administrative procedures.
Therefore, I would like to understand the thoughts of both the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which wants to strengthen regulations, and the economic organizations that clearly show their "concerns."
Triggered by LINE's personal information issue
In March 2021, it was discovered that staff at LINE's affiliated company in China had access to users' personal information. In April, the Personal Information Protection Commission and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications gave LINE administrative guidance.
Based on the Telecommunications Business Act, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications gave guidance to LINE on April 26th. The next day, the 27th, the ministry announced that it would hold a "Telecommunications Business Governance Study Group" to discuss the handling of data by telecommunications carriers.
For this reason, it can be considered that the fact that LINE's handling of personal information became a problem was the direct trigger for the full-scale discussion on tightening regulations.
Three measures presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Looking at the section on the Telecommunications Business Law in the "Encyclopaedia Britannica Internationale", this law is currently monopolized by the NTT Group and KDDI. It was enacted in 1984 for the purpose of liberalizing business.
Of course, telephone conversations were important in the past, but considering the time when the law was enacted, the importance of the role of telecommunications and the number of related businesses have increased dramatically.
According to the ``Telecommunications Business Governance and Measures to be Implemented'' submitted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to the Study Group on December 14th, the following measures have been implemented in light of the drastic changes in the environment surrounding the telecommunications business. Arranged as necessary.
- Measures against information leaks and improper handling
- Measures against communication service outages
- Information provision to users
In relation to "countermeasures against information leakage/improper handling", the biggest point is probably the expansion of the scope of businesses subject to regulation.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications documented this point, for example, as follows.
With the development of the Internet, even among those who run telecommunications businesses that do not install telecommunications circuit facilities and do not mediate other people's communications, there are cases where large-scale services that have a large impact on users are provided. Since it is emerging, how about considering making it subject to discipline, especially if it meets certain requirements?"
Although it says "only if certain requirements are met", the description gives the impression that the scope of the regulation will be expanded considerably.
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