Japanese government reassures public about social welfare information leak

(Baonghean.vn) - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on June 2 sought to ensure that the Japanese public's subsidy money was not at risk after a major data leak.

Toichiro Mizushima (left) - Chairman of Japan's social welfare system apologizes at a press conference in Tokyo.

The leak is seen as a vulnerability for Japan, opening it up to cyber attacks, and Abe is determined to enact a law that represents a major change in post-war pacifism, seeking new ways to implement a plan to control public debt.

The intrusion comes after the United States and Japan announced Washington would extend its cyber defense umbrella to the ally to help Japan deal with growing threats of attacks against military networks and infrastructure.

Computers of employees of Japan's welfare payment service were improperly accessed by a virus from an external email, leaking personal data of 1.25 million cases, the director of Japan's social welfare system said at a press conference on Monday. The leaked information included participant names, pension numbers, dates of birth and addresses.

"We will do our best not to cause trouble to those whose personal data was leaked and look into the matter to take preventive measures," Abe's top adviser, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, told a news conference.

If Abe has always been able to weather incidents that were seen as risks to his ratings, this problem should not be difficult to avoid now given his considerable influence, analysts say.

“The conditions are much more favorable for him (than in his first term),” said Sophia University professor Koichi Nakano, citing a weak opposition and Japanese media trends that are not conducive to opposing a government that could last for several more years. “On the other hand, while his support is still relatively high, his policies are not widely supported,” Nakano said. “It depends on how he deals with the problem.”

Phuong Thao

(According to Reuters)