Japan police panel urges remote phone analysis to fight anonymous crime groups

Japan’s police to monitor ‘tokuryū’ use of confidential messaging apps

The method involves remote-controlling smartphones and other devices of high-ranking tokuryū members to access communication records and other information.

Panel calls for remote analysis of tokuryū criminal group communications

The NPA aims to introduce remote analysis at an early date after the panel announces its final recommendations as soon as this month.

Revealed: how Russia uses mobile ‘super-app’ Max to spy on its citizens

Research shows tens of millions of people are being forced to use platform that amounts to ‘backdoor’ on their device

How to prepare your mobile phone for the Russian border: Meduza’s complete survival guide — Meduza

A growing number of Russians living overseas who return to the country temporarily are reporting psychological pressure and mobile-phone searches at the Russian border. These inspections can result in consequences far more severe than travel delays, including criminal charges and incarceration. Understanding your personal risk and exactly how to prepare your devices for the trip can be difficult, as the internet is full of fragmented and conflicting advice. Working with a lawyer and a cybersecurity expert, Meduza prepared this detailed guide answering the main questions on the topic. Is it true that FSB officers have a special machine that can find anything on a device? Do you have the right to refuse to unlock your phone, and is there any point in refusing? And what’s the most effective preparation strategy?

How to secure your phone before attending a protest

Here are some privacy measures you can take

Information and Communications in Japan 2024

We Hunted Hidden Secret Police Signals at the DNC in Chicago

The US is a secret police state. Using special software, WIRED collected signals from nearly 300,000 devices, revealing vulnerabilities for both law enforcement and everyday citizens alike.

Tokyo Police Arrest Possible Exec of Major Asian Fraud Ring – Adnkronos English

Tokyo, June 22 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police have arrested three people, including a man believed to be an executive of Cambodia-based Prince Group, one of the largest international fraud organizations in Asia, for allegedly submitting a false move-in notification, investigative sources said Monday. Among the three held by the Metropolitan Police Department were Cypriot national Hu Xiaowei, a 44-year-old business owner whose home address is unknown, and Li Yin Hong, a 31-year-old Chinese who is a company employee living in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward, the sources said. The MPD will investigate Prince Group’s activities in Japan. The organization has been slapped with sanctions by the United States. The trio conspired to submit a false notification of Hu’s residency in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward to the ward office in April, according to their arrest warrants. Li visited the office for the submission. Hu said in police questioning that he transferred his residency registration to Tokyo in order to obtain permanent residency in Japan. But he added that he does not know the details because he left the procedures to an agent. Hu has frequently visited Japan with a residency status of highly skilled professional. He was arrested in the western Japan city of Osaka as his allegations were discovered after he visited the country last October. According to a corporate registry, Hu founded a trading company with a capital of 8 million yen in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward in April 2023, and the company relocated its head office to Chiyoda Ward in the Japanese capital in April 2024. Its capital was increased to 50 million yen in March this year. U.S. authorities designated Prince Group as an entity subject to sanctions in October 2025 for its alleged involvement in malpractice including money laundering and charged its chairman, Chen Zhi. The Cambodian government detained him in January and handed him over to the Chinese government. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]

Police forensic tools may bypass key phone security feature

Up-to-date iPhones can lock out some forensic devices by rebooting. One major forensics company claims to have a workaround

"Pushed into the Shadows": Evidencing Digital Surveillance Chilling Effects and the Erosion of the Rights to Freedom of Assembly and of Association

SummaryThe United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Gina Romero, presents "Pushed into the Shadows: Evidencing digital surveillance chilling effects and the erosion of the rights to freedom of assembly and of association". This Global Study documents the profound impact that pervasive digital monitoring exerts on fundamental public freedoms. Moving beyond traditional privacy-centric narratives, the Study details how contemporary surveillance ecosystems induce serious chilling effects.

Japan Cabinet OKs easing data protection law to promote AI development

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill to revise the personal data protection law, easing restrictions on using individual inform

Government to ease data consent rules for AI development | The Asahi Shimbun Asia & Japan Watch

To accelerate artificial intelligence development, the government plans to relax consent requirements for access to personal information while introducing tougher penalties for intentional misuse.

The violent truth about immigration detention centers in Japan: Part 1 of 2

TOKYO --

Japan relaxes privacy laws to make AI development easy

: Opting out of personal data use won't be an option because Minister says that's a 'very big obstacle' to AI adoption

Executive linked to major Asian crime group arrested in Japan

A man believed to be an executive of a Cambodia-based, Chinese-affiliated group sanctioned by the United States and Britain as one of Asia's largest criminal networks was arrested in Japan along with two others, investigative sources said Monday.