Data Protection by Definition – Report on the Law of Data Disclosure in Japan

This report deals with Japanese data law within the framework of a comparative study from legal studies, cultural studies and business informatics, which aims to investigate the extent to which decisions to disclose personal data are based on a cultural imprint as well as on the existing legal framework. To establish this, the country report sets a baseline. In addition to a brief overview of the Japanese legal framework, it deals decisively and in depth with issues relating to data law. The focus is on regulatory aspects relating to the collection, processing and dissemination of personal data. Central feature is the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), which covers the processing of personal data and establishes fundamental privacy rights for data subjects. Questions asked include: Which legal sources regulate Japanese data law? What are personal data in Japanese data law? How may these data be collected, processed and compliance enforced?