Episode 87 - Japan’s Data Privacy Approach

Japan is a major U.S. ally commercially and otherwise. What is the Japanese approach to personal data privacy, and how does it differ from the U.S.’s privacy culture? Erik Jacobs addresses the differences in how privacy is conceived and addressed in Japan in contrast to the complex U.S. system that has no overarching federal law about how our personal information is collected, stored, sold, and otherwise handled. Erik advised the White House Office of Science and Technology and coordinated policy at the U.S. Energy Department during the prior administration. Fluent in Japanese and English, Erik is now Policy Manager for the U.S. and Asia at Access Partnership, a leading global public policy firm dedicated to opening markets for technology. He discusses the Japanese attitude toward privacy policy and Japan’s 2022 Act on Protection of Personal Information (APPI), a comprehensive personal data privacy code that augments sectoral and other laws governing the flow of personal data. Tune in to learn Japan’s approach and what the U.S. can learn from how a leading Asian ally developed a national approach to data privacy protection. If you have ideas for more interviews or stories, please email [email protected].