Last review date: 17 January 2025
The Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) is the main regulator for data privacy issues.
Last review date: 17 January 2025
The latest semi-annual report on enforcement activities issued by the PPC indicates that from 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2024, the PPC issued 203 guidance/advice notices and 61 information submission requests to business owners regarding the handling of personal information.
We have observed that administrative orders have only been issued against those who committed serious breaches involving sensitive information. The PPC has not yet published its enforcement priorities.
Last review date: 17 January 2025
Regulatory investigations or direct enforcement activity by data or cyber regulators are:
☒ Rare
Class actions/group actions under data or cyber regulation are:
☒ Rare
Last review date: 17 January 2025
There are:
☒ criminal penalties from regulators and law enforcement
Under the amended APPI, a violation of an order by the data protection authority is punishable by imprisonment with labor for not more than one year or a fine of not more than JPY 1 million (approx. USD 6,890). In addition, entities that engage in the wrongful provision or utilization of a personal information database or that violate an order issued by the data protection authority will be imposed a fine of not more than JPY 100 million (approx. USD 689,046.00). Further, current or past executive members, officers, or employees of business owners who disclose personal information retained by the business owners to a third party in order to gain unjust benefit can be punished by imprisonment (with labor) for up to one year, or a fine of up to JPY 500,000 (approx. USD 3,445).
However, such sentences or fines may only be imposed in cases where there has been a breach of a PPC's order made under the APPI.