Times Car data breach exposed 6.6 million records, editorial says

An unauthorized access incident at Times Car exposed 6.6 million records in Japan, including images of members’ driving licences.

The leaked data could be used for fraud, including opening accounts or taking out loans in other people’s names.

Times Car had kept personal information for up to seven years, even for former members, which may have increased the impact of the breach.

Other organizations, including East Japan Railway and Lawson, have also faced data leaks, raising concerns about the security of companies’ systems.

The editorial says criminals may be using AI to find system weaknesses and launch attacks, though it describes this as a likelihood rather than a confirmed explanation for the breach.

A law for active cyber defence has taken effect, and the government is urged to share information with companies while police work with overseas agencies to identify criminal groups.

People affected may receive convincing scam messages, so they should contact the service if anything seems suspicious and avoid reusing passwords.