JAPAN Trends and Developments Contributed by: Keiji Tonomura, Minh Thi Cao Koike, Akira Komatsu and Yuki Matsumiya, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
tection Officer (DPO), the person in charge of processing of personal data, are not mandatory but voluntary processes that are recommended as good practices for the appropriate manage - ment of personal data. The report mentions that these processes should be encouraged more. The Study Group Report Among the issues discussed in the Interim Report above, the Study Group Report (Decem - ber 2024) took up and examined two of them – the introduction of administrative fines and the class action system. (1) Introduction of administrative fines The study group discussed prospective triggers to impose administrative fines and factors to take into account when calculating the amount of administrative fines, but the study group did not reach a conclusion as to whether the admin - istrative fines should be introduced or not. (2) Introduction of a class action system In order to provide a viable option to remedy the problems, the study group examined the possi - bility of giving consumer organisations qualified by the Prime Minister the power to bring actions on behalf of consumers for injunctive relief and/ or damages. The study group does not seem to have reached a conclusion on whether qualified consumer organisations should be granted such a power, and it is unclear whether such a revision is likely to be included in the next amendment
non-professional drivers are rapidly advancing. On 29 March 2024, the Ministry of Land, Infra - structure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) estab - lished a new regime which allows the provision of paid transportation services by local private vehicles and non-professional drivers under the management of taxi business operators (“Private Vehicle Utilization Business”). MLIT also issued a guideline (“Guideline”) regarding permits for the Private Vehicle Utilization Business under the Road Transport Act. It is important to note that the Private Vehicle Utilization Business regime would be operated by taxi business operators, not non-profession - al drivers. In other words, ride-hailing services using private vehicles operated by non-profes - sional drivers are still generally not allowed in Japan. Under the Private Vehicle Utilization Business, taxi business operators conduct the relevant transportation business and are responsible for managing and supervising non-professional drivers. Also, the Private Vehicle Utilization Busi - ness is not allowed throughout Japan, but it is limited to specific areas and times and a certain number of vehicles because it was introduced due to the shortage of taxis and is permitted in a situation where there is a shortage of taxis. In order to conduct the Private Vehicle Utilization Business, taxi business operators are required to apply for permission to the competent transport bureau authority. Upon receiving the application, it will be examined to determine whether it meets the following requirements; if it is found to meet these requirements, permission will be granted. • Target areas, periods, time slots, number of shortage of vehicles.
to the APPI. Ride-Hailing
In Japan, ride-hailing services using private vehicles has only been allowed in very limited cases. However, due to the shortage of taxis, discussions on the use of private vehicles and
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