Japan plans law change to remotely monitor smartphones used by crime syndicates
Japan's national police will ask lawmakers to amend the Police Duties Execution Act so investigators can remotely access smartphones used by organized crime leaders.
Following a recommendation from a specialist panel, Japan's national police intend to seek a revision of the Police Duties Execution Act to permit remote surveillance of smartphones used by crime ring commanders. The proposal would require investigators to first pinpoint the device, then secure a judge's warrant before accessing its encrypted messages. Criminal groups, which recruit youths and the unemployed via social media and use apps such as Signal and Telegram, often issue orders from overseas, making real-time interception difficult.
To address privacy concerns, the National Public Safety Commission will audit each operation, and only officers with expertise selected by the National Police Agency may handle the data. Any information not covered by the warrant will be erased and the phone's owner informed afterward. Panel chair Toshihiro Kawaide expressed hope that the system will be applied responsibly, while Yoshiyuki Morimoto pledged swift development to curb the rising harm from these crimes.
Why it matters
The change would give police a new tool to disrupt organized crime that exploits encrypted messaging, raising both security and privacy stakes.
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