Japan Unveils ¥10 Billion Cybersecurity Plan

Japan announced a ¥10 billion ($63 million) emergency cybersecurity package Friday after dozens of companies and government agencies reported unauthorized access and customer-data leaks.

The plan includes artificial-intelligence tools, public-private response teams and expanded government access to servers used by suspected hackers. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told a ministerial meeting that Japan needed a rapid response to attacks created or assisted by AI. She urged government agencies and companies to improve their preparations.

The package is designed to improve information sharing between the public and private sectors, speed up assistance for organizations affected by cyberattacks and support recovery after breaches.

Japan will expand its use of “active cyber defense,” a policy legalized in October that allows the government to access servers used by hackers as a preventive measure. A support team will handle cases that could affect national security, bringing together officials from the Defense Ministry, the National Police Agency and the National Cybersecurity Office.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry plans to establish a team of cybersecurity specialists by the end of November. Its members will use AI to help counter hackers and identify weaknesses in computer networks. The team is expected to work with technology companies and AI developers in friendly countries to update Japan’s cybersecurity expertise.

A separate “cyber rescue team” of public- and private-sector specialists will provide initial support to companies affected by cyberattacks. Another team will help companies considered vulnerable improve their defenses.

“At this very moment, cases of unauthorized access and data breaches are occurring, causing a major impact on daily lives of the people and corporate activities,” Takaichi said. “Let us increase the response capability across Japan by devoting all government resources.”

Recent reported incidents have affected Sony’s Japanese internet service, Nikkei, the Digital Agency, frozen-food maker Nichirei and telecommunications company KDDI.