Japan police chief calls for investigation into spate of corporate data leaks
In short
Yoshinobu Kusunoki (楠芳伸), Commissioner General of Japan's National Police Agency, said on October 8 that police need to push ahead with investigations and clarify the facts behind a series of large-scale data leaks at companies caused by unauthorised access. He said it is not yet clear what lies behind the incidents or whether they are linked, and urged companies, individuals and financial institutions to tighten security and identity checks.
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Yoshinobu Kusunoki (楠芳伸), Commissioner General of Japan's National Police Agency, said on October 8 that police need to push ahead with investigations and clarify the facts of a series of large-scale information leaks at companies caused by unauthorised access, TBS NEWS DIG reported. Tokyo Shimbun, Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun also reported that the agency chief pledged to advance investigations following the successive cyberattacks. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
"At present it is not clear what lies behind these incidents or whether they are related to one another, but the police recognise the need to carry out the necessary investigations and clarify the facts," Kusunoki said at his regular press conference, according to TBS NEWS DIG. He called on companies and individuals to take security measures such as updating software and managing passwords properly. [ 4 ]
Referring to confirmed leaks of driver's licence images, Kusunoki noted that the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds and other rules set out how identities must be verified, including methods that use images of photo ID documents. He urged financial institutions and other businesses to verify identities carefully to prevent impersonation, such as accounts being opened in someone else's name. [ 4 ]
He also asked people who receive suspicious phone calls to consult the police advice line #9110, and to report to and consult the police promptly if they suffer harm, TBS NEWS DIG reported. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
Four outlets carried the statement, signalling police attention to a run of cyberattacks on Japanese companies. Kusunoki's warning about leaked driver's licence images points to a risk of accounts being opened by impersonation, which is why he asked financial institutions to check identities carefully.
Key facts
- National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoshinobu Kusunoki said on October 8 that police need to promote the necessary investigations and clarify the facts of the incidents. [ 4 ]
- He spoke at a regular press conference, responding to a series of large-scale information leaks at companies caused by unauthorised access. [ 4 ]
- Kusunoki said it is not clear at present what lies behind the incidents or whether they are related to each other. [ 4 ]
- He called on companies and individuals to take security measures such as updating software and managing passwords properly. [ 4 ]
- Citing confirmed leaks of driver's licence images, he urged financial institutions and other businesses to carry out careful identity verification to prevent impersonation, such as fraudulent account opening. [ 4 ]
- He asked people who receive suspicious calls to consult the police advice line #9110 and to report any damage to police promptly. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Who is behind the incidents and whether they are connected. Kusunoki said the background of the incidents and any links between them are not yet clear.
- Which companies were affected and how much data was leaked. The documents do not name the companies or give the scale of the leaks.
- How many driver's licence images leaked and from where. Only one outlet mentions the leaked licence images, and it gives no details of their source or number.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Tokyo Shimbun reports the National Police Agency chief's pledge to push investigations into the cyberattacks. [ 1 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun carries the same report. [ 2 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports the chief's call to advance investigations following successive cyberattacks. [ 3 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG publishes Kusunoki's press conference remarks, including his warnings on identity checks and the #9110 line. [ 4 ]