Prime Minister Takaichi Orders Emergency Cybersecurity Measures After GMO Breach

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ordered her cabinet to develop emergency cybersecurity measures by the end of next week following a series of cyberattacks across Japan. During an emergency ministerial meeting on Monday, Takaichi stated the government would implement countermeasures to access and neutralize threats.

The directive follows a significant breach at GMO Internet Group, where unauthorized access to a foreign-exchange trading service resulted in unrecognized customer transactions. GMO CEO Masatoshi Kumagai reported that the company refused a $50 million cryptocurrency ransom demand and requested government assistance to neutralize the attackers.

This response aligns with recently implemented cybersecurity laws that permit active cyber defense to proactively eliminate threats. As part of the government's strategy, Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa announced plans to deploy a team of white hat hackers to identify and repair security vulnerabilities, while Cybersecurity Minister Toshiharu Furukawa is coordinating with international allies to identify the sources of the attacks.