Politics · Japan · 19 hrs ago
Japanese lawmaker challenges official over My Number data security
At a meeting of Japan’s House of Representatives Finance and Financial Affairs Committee, independent lawmaker Takashi Kawamura challenged a Digital Agency official over the security of the My Number system.
Kawamura cited recent data leaks at private organizations and raised concerns about personal information being linked to people’s My Number details.
The official said government agencies keep personal data in separate systems, rather than combining it in one database.
He also said safeguards use different codes to prevent information from being traced across agencies.
The official said no similar My Number leak had been reported, but Kawamura demanded an absolute guarantee and warned about sensitive medical information.
Kawamura predicted the system would later be seen as a mistake and said the official should apologize if information leaks.
Independent lawmaker Takashi Kawamura challenged a Digital Agency official over the security of Japan’s My Number system at a House of Representatives committee hearing.
Kawamura demanded that the official guarantee the system was completely safe from information leaks.
The official said personal information is managed separately by government agencies and that the agency had received no reports of similar leaks involving My Number.
Kawamura raised concerns about medical information being linked to the system and warned that a leak would have serious consequences.
- Who
- Independent lawmaker Takashi Kawamura and Digital Agency senior official Hisashi Kamikariya.
- What
- Kawamura pressed Kamikariya to guarantee My Number data would not leak. The official described safeguards and said no such leak reports had been received.
- When
- October 21, 2026.
- Where
- A House of Representatives Finance and Financial Affairs Committee hearing in Japan.
- Why
- Kawamura questioned the risks of information leaks, including the linking of medical records to My Number.
Takashi Kawamura
Digital Agency
Aspect
Takashi Kawamura
Kawamura's view
Digital Agency
Digital Agency's view
Security assurance
Takashi Kawamura
He demanded an absolute guarantee that information would not leak.
Digital Agency
The official said the agency had received no reports of recent leaks involving My Number.
Data management
Takashi Kawamura
He warned that linking medical information could expose sensitive details such as illnesses and medicines.
Digital Agency
The official said personal information is managed separately across administrative bodies, with safeguards against tracing linked data.
Kawamura questioned the Digital Agency official at a House of Representatives Finance and Financial Affairs Committee hearing.
Kamikariya described decentralized data management and safeguards against extracting information through linked records.
Kawamura demanded an absolute safety guarantee and raised concerns about medical information being linked.
Kawamura warned that the system might later be judged a mistake and told the official to apologize if information emerged.
- Lawmaker
- Takashi Kawamura, an independent member
- Official
- Hisashi Kamikariya, Digital Agency senior official
- Committee
- House of Representatives Finance and Financial Affairs Committee
- Data management
- Personal information is managed separately by administrative bodies
- Leak reports
- The official said no reports of similar My Number leaks had been received
3 sources
What people are saying
We have not received reports concerning My Number of personal information leak incidents like those recently reported.
Don't say you have not received reports; say it is absolutely safe.
If that information comes out, it will be a serious problem.
When that happens, make sure you apologize.