Privacy Updates On Handling Personal Information In The "Digital Market"

This alert summarizes several legislative updates that have potentially far-reaching privacy implications for tech companies doing business in Japan.  These updates relate to the handling of personal information in the so-called "digital market." 

In Japan, this term means the market of online services such as search providers, social networking services, and electronic commerce, or other value provided to customers through data or digital technology.  

Japan's Cabinet established the Headquarters for Digital Market Competition to discuss new laws and guidelines affecting the digital market, including:

1. The amendment to the Personal Information Protection Act ("PIPA");
2. New guidelines by the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC"), which address businesses operating digital platforms; and