Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:I will give an overview of today's Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 28 general and other measures, and also the promulgation of cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Finance made a statement on the lifting of the suspension of public works and other programs. Prime Minister Noda made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are on overseas visits.

Also, a meeting of the Information Security Policy Council was held before today's Cabinet meeting. The meeting took place in response to the recent cyber attack that targeted a company which handles Japan's sensitive information and infected the company's computers and servers with a fraudulent program. Based on today's discussions, in order to encourage companies, etc., which handle Japan's sensitive information and are deeply intertwined with the country's security, to take greater information security measures, it was decided that a subcommittee will be established within the Information Security Promotion Council. While coordinating with the Expert Committee on Awareness-Raising and Human Resources Development, the subcommittee will study ways to strengthen public-private partnerships in the area of information security measures. Also, I have decided to disclose the document entitled, "Strengthening Information Security Measures," which has been distributed to you, as the message that I, the Chair of the Information Security Policy Council, would like to direct to the people. The message presents our policy on initiatives for strengthening public-private partnerships. It is also intended to clearly set out the measures which should be taken in response to the current situation surrounding fraudulent programs, of course for the companies deeply involved in Japan's security, but also for all the people of Japan. On this basis, the Government will endeavor to realize the world's foremost information security system through public-private partnerships. As to the details of the meeting, a briefing will be held later here by the National Information Security Center (NISC). Please refer to the briefing.

Next, following today's Cabinet meeting, the fourth meeting of the Exploratory Committee on Government Information Security (Maintenance) was held, which I, being the Chair of the committee, attended. At today's meeting, it was decided that the drafting of the legislation for improving the legislation concerning information security will go ahead with the aim of submitting the draft at the next ordinary session of the Diet, among other decisions. The relevant six ministries and agencies also gave a report on the implementation plans they respectively created for measures related to information maintenance systems. I instructed the Committee members to make careful examinations in drafting the legislation while paying due attention to the people's right to know and the freedom of press, etc., as well as listening to the opinions of a wide range of people. In parallel with the legislative and system measures, I instructed the respective ministries and agencies to continue providing guidance for enhancing staff awareness. For details on today's Committee meeting, please direct your inquiries to the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office.