Japan Allows Sensitive Personal Data to be Used for AI Without Consent

Illustration of digital data. Japan has relaxed rules on the use of sensitive personal data for AI development, provided it does not reveal individual identities. Photo: Pexels.

Japan has relaxed rules on the protection of personal data to speed up the development of artificial intelligence or AI domestically. The Japanese parliament passed a revision of the law that allows companies to use certain sensitive data without individual consent, as long as the data does not reveal the identity of a specific person.

Kyodo News, quoted on Friday, July 10, reported that the law change was passed by the Japanese House of Representatives on Friday. The revision opens up greater access for AI developers who need large amounts of data.

This is where the tug-of-war is. The AI industry needs big data, but privacy issues cannot be taken lightly.

The information that can be used includes data collected through social media and other platforms. The data can be used for AI development and statistical analysis.

The types of information that fall into the sensitive category include race, personal beliefs, medical history, and criminal history. However, the data must not lead to the identity of the individual.

The Japanese government is also preparing sanctions for data abuse. Companies that obtain or use personal data of more than 1,000 people inappropriately may be subject to fines equivalent to the profits obtained from the data.

Japan is pushing for the development of domestic AI as part of its national security and data protection agenda. The push to loosen data protection rules also comes from business circles.

However, this change is not entirely smooth. In the discussion in parliament, a number of parliamentarians highlighted the risk of using sensitive personal data without the knowledge of the person concerned.

In addition to revising the law on the protection of personal data, the Japanese parliament also passed a separate rule that allows the government to provide its data to private companies and research institutions.

Government data can be used to develop advanced technology, including AI and self-driving vehicles.

Japan has been lagging behind other countries in the use of government-held data. Through the latest legal changes, Tokyo wants to open up business opportunities for companies, while maintaining privacy protection.

One example of its use is the development of autonomous vehicles. The technology can use GPS data from the private sector and geographic information provided by the government.

Autonomous vehicles are vehicles designed to move on their own with the help of sensors, digital maps, and computer systems.