Japan announces emergency cybersecurity package worth 10,000 million yen

Japan's government announced on Friday, November 6, an emergency cybersecurity package worth 10,000 million yen ($63 million), after dozens of companies and public bodies suffered unauthorized access and leaks of client data, according to the Associated Press.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told a ministerial meeting that unauthorized access and leaks affecting daily life and business activity are occurring at this moment, and called for all government resources to be mobilized, according to AP.

The Ministry of Economy will set up by the end of November a team of experts who will use artificial intelligence to counter attackers and detect weaknesses in networks, according to AP. There will also be a public-private rescue team for the first response at companies under attack, whose secretariat will be set up by the end of fiscal 2026, according to the Jiji agency.

The government will also strengthen its capacity to access servers used by attackers, known as active cyber defense, legalized in October, according to AP. In the event of serious attacks it can send a joint team with the National Cybersecurity Office, the police, the Defense Ministry and the Self-Defense Forces, according to Jiji.