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Act on Protection of Personal Information (APPI)

View Law Text
Maximum Fine
¥100M or 1%
Scope
National
Regulator
PPC
Enacted
2003

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Overview

The Act on Protection of Personal Information (APPI) is Japan's comprehensive data protection law that regulates the handling of personal information by private businesses.

Key Facts

  • Originally enacted in 2003, significant amendments in 2020
  • Enforced by Personal Information Protection Commission
  • Includes cross-border transfer restrictions

Key Principles

Proper Handling of Personal Information

Personal information must be handled properly and in accordance with the law.

Requirements

  • Specify handling purposes
  • Obtain necessary consent
  • Ensure data accuracy
  • Implement security measures
  • Regular compliance checks

Examples

  • Purpose specifications
  • Consent mechanisms
  • Data quality procedures
  • Security controls

Transparency and Notice

Organizations must be transparent about their data handling practices.

Requirements

  • Public privacy policies
  • Clear handling notices
  • Disclosure of third parties
  • Regular policy updates
  • Accessible information

Examples

  • Privacy policies
  • Handling notices
  • Third-party lists
  • Policy updates

Individual Rights

Protection of individual rights regarding their personal information.

Requirements

  • Right to access
  • Right to correction
  • Right to deletion
  • Right to cease provision
  • Response procedures

Examples

  • Access request forms
  • Correction procedures
  • Deletion processes
  • Response tracking

Compliance Requirements

Data Handling Requirements

Requirements for handling personal information including sensitive data (要配慮個人情報).

Implementation Steps

  • Identify personal data categories
  • Implement handling procedures
  • Obtain necessary consent
  • Document processing purposes
  • Regular compliance reviews

Required Documentation

  • Data inventory
  • Handling procedures
  • Consent records
  • Purpose documentation
  • Review logs

Cross-Border Transfers

Requirements for transferring personal data outside Japan.

Implementation Steps

  • Assess recipient country adequacy
  • Implement transfer safeguards
  • Obtain consent for transfers
  • Document transfers
  • Monitor compliance

Required Documentation

  • Transfer assessments
  • Safeguard documentation
  • Consent records
  • Transfer logs
  • Monitoring reports

Security Control Measures

Implementation of necessary and appropriate security control measures.

Implementation Steps

  • Conduct security assessments
  • Implement security controls
  • Train staff
  • Regular security audits
  • Incident response planning

Required Documentation

  • Security policies
  • Assessment reports
  • Training records
  • Audit logs
  • Response plans

Enforcement & Penalties

Administrative Penalties

The Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) can impose administrative penalties for violations.

Penalty Categories

Severe Violations
Up to ¥100M or 1% of revenue
For serious breaches of APPI requirements
Criminal Penalties
Up to ¥1M
For individual offenders
Corporate Penalties
Up to ¥100M
For corporate violations

Example Cases

Recruit Career
¥1.2B
2023 - Unauthorized sharing of personal data
LINE Corporation
Administrative Order
2021 - Overseas data transfer violations

Corrective Measures

The PPC can issue various corrective orders and measures.

Penalty Categories

Improvement Orders
Mandatory Changes
Orders to improve data protection measures
Cease and Desist
Activity Suspension
Orders to stop violating activities
Public Announcements
Reputational Impact
Public disclosure of violations

Example Cases

Social Media Platform
Improvement Order
2022 - Required to enhance security measures
E-commerce Company
Public Announcement
2023 - Data handling violations disclosed