Japan data leaks mount as experts point to AI misuse
TOKYO -- Japanese companies and local governments have recently disclosed a series of personal data leaks. A white-hat hacker who monitors malicious c
Personal data breaches have surged in Japan, with experts attributing the increase to the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI). A white-hat hacker noted that the dynamics of information security changed in March, indicating a significant rise in cyber incidents. According to cybersecurity firm Trend Micro Inc., 600 cases of unauthorized access and damage were reported in Japan by the end of September, exceeding the same period in both 2024 and 2025. This year is on track to be the worst since 2023.
A notable incident involved Times Car, a car-sharing service, which disclosed unauthorized access to personal data, exposing the information of 6.6 million individuals, including driver license images. The leaked data is crucial for identity verification, raising concerns about potential misuse for impersonation and other fraudulent activities.
Additionally, East Japan Railway Co. (JR East), Viewcard Co., Bookoff Group Holdings Ltd., and Adventure Inc. have also announced possible data leaks, totaling up to 14.64 million items of personal information.
Experts attribute the escalation in data breaches to the misuse of AI. Takayuki Sugiura, a prominent white-hat hacker, explained that AI has accelerated the discovery of vulnerabilities in systems, making unauthorized access easier. He believes that attackers are leveraging AI to pinpoint system weaknesses and carry out attacks. Moreover, Sugiura noted that AI systems, once restricted due to ethical considerations, are now freely accessible, enabling more sophisticated cyberattacks.
The speed of attacks has significantly increased, with Sugiura stating that a two-week-long attack can now be executed in just a few dozen minutes using AI. This rapid advancement poses a considerable challenge for defenders, who are struggling to keep up with the pace of AI-driven threats. Trend Micro security expert Katsuyuki Okamoto confirmed that traces of AI-based attacks have been observed in recent breaches, suggesting a shift from single-vulnerability exploits to multi-vulnerability attacks facilitated by AI.
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