Japan declares 'state of emergency in cyberspace' as AI unleashes mass ransomware waves
Several of Japan's leading brands have been targeted by cyber attacks in recent weeks, prompting the nation's government to declare a 'state of emergency in cyberspace' in response, implementing radical changes in a bid to combat the vulnerabilities.
While long-term concerns surrounding AI have involved the technology's impact on the world of employment and the environment at large, what has emerged this year as arguably the most pressing issue is cybersecurity.
Leading figures in the industry like OpenAI's Sam Altman have warned that 'world-shaking' cyber attacks are just around the corner, and there have even been a number of instances where AI tools have autonomously hacked other companies.
Those don't appear to be isolated incidents anymore now, as more than 20 of Japan's biggest companies have been hit with cyber attacks, as reported by the Financial Times, exposing customer data in the process.
Japanese companies hit with cyber attacks
Dozens of companies based in Japan have been struck by cyber attacks that are likely driven by or orchestrated with the assistance of AI, with brands like car rental operator Times car and convenience store Lawson among those impacted.
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These attacks have also struck vital public infrastructure like hospitals and government facilities, exposing potentially tens of millions of data pieces including personal and confidential information.
Exposed as part of the data breach are driver's licence images sourced from the Times Car hack, and experts have suggested that these are on sale on dark web black markets for as little as ¥25 ($0.15).
Arguably key to the reason why Japan has been disproportionately impacted by these cyber attacks is the relatively primitive cybersecurity measures put in place across the nation, with its aging population implied as a motivating factor behind these limited protections.
Experts have highlighted these deficiencies for a number of years now, shining a light on the valuable personal data that doesn't have the adequate systems in place to protect it, and these companies are arguably paying the price now.
How has the Japanese government responded?
The Japanese government has plunged the nation into alarm, with National Cybersecurity Strategy Headquarters (NCSH) lead Masaaki Taira declaring a 'state of emergency in cyberspace' when responding to the hacks.
These concerns were echoed by Toshiharu Furukawa, Japan's cybersecurity minister, who called the hacks and the nation's response 'extremely critical'.
One of the biggest changes that has already been implemented is that financial lenders have been told not to accept driver's licences as the sole form of identification for new bank accounts, as millions have been made available to cybercriminals following the Times Car breach.
As a result, customers must supply forms of identification that have ID chips – like passports for MyNumber national identity cards – in a bid to implement reactive protections going forward.
What this does reflect, however, is the necessity for immediate action when it comes to new and improved cybersecurity protections, as the technology and software used by hackers will only continue to improve and evolve at a rapid rate, with attacks like these bound to happen again in the near future.