Kiyoshi Murata
   Department   Undergraduate School  , School of Commerce
   Position   Professor
Language English
Publication Date 2008/07
Type Academic Journal
Peer Review Peer reviewed
Title Socio-cultural Analysis of Personal Information Leakage in Japan
Contribution Type Co-authored (other than first author)
Journal Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society
Journal TypeAnother Country
Volume, Issue, Page 6(2),pp.161-171
Author and coauthor Yohko Orito and Kiyoshi Murata
Details Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyse incidents of personal information leakage in Japan based on Japanese socio-cultural characteristics of information privacy and to consider how best to develop an effective personal information protection policy that conforms to Japanese situations as well as to the global requirement of personal information protection.
Design/methodology/approach - After describing recent incidents of personal information leakage in Japan, the paper examines the defects of the Act on Protection of Personal Information (APPI) that permit these incidents to continue. Subsequently, these incidents and the responses of the Japanese people in a manner that reflects the unique Japanese socio-cultural characteristics of information privacy are analysed. Finally, the paper proposes a revision of APPI that conforms to these Japanese socio-cultural characteristics as well as to the global requirement for personal information protection.
Findings - Personal information leakage cases and social responses in Japan reflect three Japanese socio-cultural characteristics: Uchi/Soto awareness, insular collectivism and Hon'ne/Tatemae tradition. An effective law protecting personal information in Japan's cultural environment cannot
be made simply by copying the privacy protection laws in western nations. Instead, legal protection of personal information should be drafted that reflects and takes into account these socio-cultural characteristics.
Originality/value - This paper conducts analysis of incidents of personal information leakage in Japan based on Japanese socio-cultural characteristics. A revision of APPI is proposed on the basis of the analysis. The paper's analysis and proposal would provide a good clue to develop effective measures to protect personal information and the right to information privacy in the global, multicultural information society.
DOI 10.1108/14779960810888365
ISSN 1477-996X
URL for researchmap https://doi.org/10.1108/14779960810888365