THE CRUNCH
Japan has announced an emergency cybersecurity package worth 10 billion yen, about $63 million, after a wave of data breaches hit dozens of companies and government agencies. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told a ministerial meeting on Friday that rapid response is essential in an era of AI-generated attacks, saying unauthorized access and breaches were already affecting people's daily lives and corporate activity. The package is built around information sharing between the public and private sectors, swift assistance for affected organisations and recovery from damage, with the stated aim of reaching one of the world's highest levels of cybersecurity.
A central measure is "active cyber defense," a preemptive approach that lets the government access servers used by hackers. The approach was legalized in October, and the package builds operational muscle around it. If Japan's national security is challenged, a support team drawn from the Defense Ministry, the National Police Agency and the National Cybersecurity Office will be deployed.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will set up a "top gun" team of cybersecurity experts by the end of November. Members will use AI to counter hackers and find weaknesses in network systems, and will cooperate with technology companies and advanced AI developers in friendly nations to keep Japan's expertise current. A separate "cyber rescue team" of public and private sector experts will provide initial responses to companies hit by attacks, and another team will help vulnerable companies strengthen their defenses.