Security Threats in Japan: Changing Attitudes, the Legal Framework, and Credit Card Industry Countermeasures

Attitudes towards data security are changing: the Japanese media has recently made a great hoopla over recent high-profile card counterfeiting, data leakage, and phishing incidents. Our speaker, Daniel Lintz, will present some case studies of recent security incidents that received widespread media coverage. Daniel will describe countermeasures that Visa International and the broader card industry are taking in response to these threats, and the opportunities that this will create for other players in the IT field.

Japanese have traditionally paid little attention to data security -- due to lifetime employment, a strong social fabric of mutual trust -- and financial networks have been intentionally isolated. Global credit card industry standards and practices -- such as front/back magnetic stripe specifications, terminal standards, and encryption -- have driven the industry to evolve separately from local financial-service sectors. Daniel will describe the legal and regulatory frameworks behind this disparity. He will also cover recent changes in Corporate Governance.

Daniel Lintz, Director of Corporate Communications in Japan for Visa International Asia Pacific Ltd.

A long time Tokyoite, Daniel joined Sony Corporation Headquarters as a PR Manager in 1997 and spent the next four years promoting new technologies and strategic initiatives including the AIBO robot, the FeliCa IC card platform, high-density recording media and the Super Audio CD. Since June 2001, Daniel has served as a Director of Corporate Communications for Visa International, with responsibility for media relations, government relations, and public affairs.