Politics · Japan · 2 hrs ago
Japan to prepare emergency cybersecurity measures by next week
Japan will prepare emergency cybersecurity measures by the end of next week, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at a Cabinet meeting in Tokyo.
The plan follows a surge in breaches affecting Japanese companies and other organizations.
Takaichi said officials would consider response options, including measures to neutralize cyber threats, and work with other countries to identify those responsible.
A law that took effect on October 1 allows the government to take active cyber defense measures against servers used in attacks, but companies cannot request that the framework be activated.
One breach at internet services firm GMO exposed customer information, including account passwords, and was linked to fraudulent transactions.
Another possible breach may have exposed about 51.6 million personal records, including names and email addresses tied to online bullet train reservations; credit card details were not included.
Ministers will determine the budget and measures for the package, which the government plans to compile by the end of next week.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan will compile an emergency package of additional cybersecurity measures by the end of next week.
She made the announcement at a meeting of Cabinet ministers in Tokyo on Monday, as companies reported a rise in unauthorized access and data breaches.
Takaichi said the government would consider all response options, including measures to neutralize cyber threats whose nature has been determined.
She instructed ministers to work with like-minded countries and overseas organizations to identify those responsible and to determine the budget needed.
The meeting followed breaches affecting Japanese companies, including GMO Internet Group and corporate email service firm Ymirlink.
- Who
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and relevant Cabinet ministers.
- What
- The government will prepare an emergency package of additional cybersecurity measures.
- When
- Announced Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. The package is due by the end of the following week.
- Where
- At the prime minister’s office in Tokyo.
- Why
- Companies have reported a surge in unauthorized access and data breaches.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A law enabling the government to take active cyber defense measures took effect.
A customer asked GMO Internet Group about suspected unauthorized transactions on its onamae.com desktop cloud service.
GMO confirmed that an unauthorized program had been installed on servers.
Takaichi announced the government would compile an emergency cybersecurity package by the end of the following week.
- Package deadline
- By the end of the week after Oct. 26, 2026
- Meeting location
- Prime minister’s office, Tokyo
- GMO service targeted
- onamae.com desktop cloud service
- Ymirlink possible exposure
- Some 51.6 million personal records
- GMO hacker demand
- $50 million in cryptocurrency
3 sources
What people are saying
This is a serious situation that requires us to urgently strengthen our countermeasures.
strategically take all response options, including neutralization measures
If this is overlooked as just an isolated incident in the private sector, all kinds of social infrastructure and personal assets could be threatened next by similar methods.