Japan launches emergency cybersecurity package after wave of attacks

TOKYO: Japan has unveiled a multi-million dollar emergency policy package to tackle a surge in cyberattacks targeting businesses and potentially exposing sensitive data. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged action after numerous companies reported unauthorized system access and possible client data leaks in recent weeks. The wave of hacking incidents has grown globally, with AI's capacity to discover new methods of infiltrating computer systems drawing global attention.

At a Friday meeting, Takaichi's ministers collaborated to create an "emergency countermeasures package" with an initial budget of 10 billion yen (US$63 million) from the government. The premier requested her finance minister to explore additional funding sources for the comprehensive plan. The package encompasses security measures leveraging AI, reinforcement of investigative systems, and enhanced support for victims, as well as damage prevention strategies.

Reports suggest the package includes establishing a "cyber rescue team" comprising government and private sector experts. The government aims to establish a secretariat within the ongoing fiscal year to coordinate the deployment of the rescue team during periods of heightened support requirements, according to Yomiuri Shimbun, Jiji Press, and other outlets.

While Takaichi did not explicitly mention the cyber rescue team, she emphasized the necessity of mobilizing all government capabilities to bolster the nation's overall response capacity in the AI era. She highlighted that unauthorized access and data leaks continue to occur regularly, significantly impacting citizens' lives and corporate operations.

The information security division of Japanese IT firm GMO Internet Group Inc revealed that Chinese AI cybersecurity tool Artex was utilized in several recent Japanese company hacks. GMO Internet Group itself has been a target of these attacks.