Personal Information/Personal Information Protection Law

Personal information is information about a living individual that can be used to identify the specific individual. For example, birth date and phone number are information that by itself cannot identify a specific individual, but when combined with a name, etc., it can identify a specific individual, and thus may fall under the category of personal information. It also includes information that can be easily matched with other information, such as driver's license number, fingerprint and vein authentication data, DNA, health insurance policy number, etc., and thereby identify a specific individual. Leakage of personal information can result in the dissemination of personal information that you wish to keep secret, fraud, abuse, unwanted phone calls, and spam mail.
The Personal Information Protection Law requires companies, organizations, and other businesses to handle personal information appropriately in order to protect and enhance the use of individuals' rights and interests. Note that the Act is periodically reviewed and revised as it may not be able to keep up with recent technological innovations and changes of the times.

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