Japan plans tighter curbs on companies to counter cyberattacks in move aimed at China

A proposed law would allow the government to order firms in security-sensitive sectors to provide advance information when procuring overseas software

Japan is under pressure to follow in the footsteps of the US in boosting countermeasures against cyberattacks

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:09pm, 2 Feb 2022

Japan will consider imposing tighter curbs on companies in security-sensitive sectors that procure overseas software as part of efforts to ramp up steps to counter cyberattacks, according to a proposal by a key panel released on Tuesday.

The move would be part of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s initiative to defend Japan’s economic security mainly against China, such as by preventing leaks of sensitive technology and building more resilient supply chains.

In the proposal, the panel called for crafting legislation that allows the government to order companies to provide advance information when updating software or procuring new equipment, and vet purchases that could put Japan at risk of cyberattacks.

The regulation would target companies in industries critical to national security such as energy, water supply, information technology, finance and transport, the proposal said.

“Due to rapid digitalisation in today’s world, almost all areas of economic activity including those involving critical infrastructure are targets of cyberattacks,” the panel said, in explaining the need for fresh legislation.