What is APPI (Act on the Protection of Personal Information)?
The APPI is Japan's primary data protection law that regulates the handling of personal information by business operators, with 2022 amendments strengthening individual rights and cross-border transfer rules.
The Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) is Japan's principal data protection law, originally enacted in 2003 and significantly amended in 2017 and again in 2022. The APPI applies to business operators handling personal information and establishes rules for the collection, use, storage, and transfer of personal data. The 2022 amendments expanded individual rights, tightened rules on cross-border data transfers, and introduced mandatory breach notification requirements.
The APPI distinguishes between personal information, personal data (personal information constituting a database), and retained personal data (personal data that a business operator has the authority to disclose, correct, or delete). It requires business operators to specify the purpose of use, not use personal information beyond what is necessary for that purpose, and take security control measures. Sensitive personal information known as "special care-required personal information" receives heightened protection and generally requires consent for acquisition.
The Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) serves as the independent supervisory authority. Penalties for violations include criminal sanctions for certain offenses and administrative orders. The 2022 amendments raised maximum penalties significantly and introduced a requirement for foreign business operators to appoint a domestic representative. IQWorks helps organizations comply with APPI through DiscoverIQ for data inventory and ClassifyIQ for identifying special care-required personal information.
How IQWorks Helps
Related Terms
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
The General Data Protection Regulation is the European Union's comprehensive data protection law that sets strict rules for how organizations collect, store, and process personal data of EU residents, with fines up to 4% of annual global turnover.
Sensitive Personal Data
Sensitive personal data includes special categories such as health information, biometric data, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, and sexual orientation that require enhanced protection.
Cross-Border Data Transfer
Cross-border data transfer refers to the movement of personal data from one country or jurisdiction to another, which is regulated by data protection laws that impose specific requirements to ensure adequate protection.
Supervisory Authority
A supervisory authority is an independent public body established by a country to monitor and enforce compliance with data protection laws, such as the ICO in the UK or the CNIL in France.