As part of efforts to enhance countermeasures against cyberattacks, the government has decided to start monitoring 35 critical corporations, such as those involved in space development or nuclear power, beginning fiscal 2017. This information was disclosed by a source connected to the government. With the revision of laws related to countermeasures against cyberattacks in April, the government had decided to expand the range of monitoring to include independent administrative corporations and other organizations. This is the first step to be taken by the government following the revision. The government is expediting its preparation of security arrangements for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

The government selected the 35 corporations based on the expected impact on the daily lives of the public in the event of attacks against them. The administration intends to allocate about one billion yen in the fiscal 2017 budgetary request for related preparations.

The government selected 30 independent administrative corporations, including those that possess highly scientific technology such as the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR), which handles large volumes of personal information. The administration will also designate about five authorized corporations such as the Japan Pension Service, which was involved in an incident in which personal information was leaked, and corporations that have special semi-governmental status.