Japan launches emergency cybersecurity package after wave of attacks

Japan has introduced a multi-million dollar emergency cybersecurity package in response to a surge of hacking incidents, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Friday. The country's leader vowed to take action after dozens of businesses reported unauthorized access to their systems and potential data leaks. Hacks and data breaches have surged globally, with artificial intelligence's ability to discover previously unknown methods of breaching computer systems drawing worldwide attention.

On Friday, Takaichi convened her ministers to draft an "emergency countermeasures package" aimed at tackling the current wave of cyberattacks. The package, initially funded by ¥10 billion (US$63 million) from the government's budget, will be expanded as necessary, with Finance Minister Hiroshige Seko tasked to secure additional funds. The policy package includes AI-driven security measures, bolstered investigation systems, and enhanced support for victims, as well as efforts to curb damage spread.

Reports suggest the package will establish a "cyber rescue team" comprised of government and private sector experts to respond to acute support needs. The government plans to establish a coordination secretariat within the current fiscal year to deploy the rescue team when required. Takaichi emphasized the urgent need to keep pace with the speed of cyberattacks in the AI era, noting that unauthorized access and information leaks continue to occur frequently, significantly impacting citizens' lives and corporate operations.

The Japanese IT firm GMO Internet Group Inc. revealed that Chinese artificial intelligence cybersecurity tool Artex was employed in recent hacks of Japanese companies. GMO Internet Group itself has also been targeted by cyberattacks.