Daijiworld Media Network - Tokyo
Tokyo, Jan 8: An employee of Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has reportedly lost a work-issued smartphone, possibly in China, triggering concerns over the safety of confidential information, Japanese officials and local media reports said.
The incident, which came to light this week, is said to have occurred in early November when the employee allegedly misplaced the smartphone at Shanghai airport during a security check. According to reports by Kyodo News and Asahi Shimbun, the phone contained confidential contact details of staff working in the NRA’s nuclear security division, information that is not publicly disclosed due to the sensitive nature of their duties.
An NRA official confirmed that the device was mainly used for emergency communication during disasters such as major earthquakes and was not meant for accessing nuclear facility data. The loss was reported in November to the authority responsible for overseeing the handling of personal information. However, efforts to remotely lock or erase the data were unsuccessful as the device was out of range, media reports said.
The matter has gained attention amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Japan and China. Beijing has recently stepped up pressure on Tokyo following remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November suggesting Japan could respond militarily if Taiwan comes under attack. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force.
The development also comes at a sensitive time as Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) prepares to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, the world’s largest nuclear power station, later this month. The NRA is currently reviewing TEPCO’s application for the restart.
Japan had shut down its nuclear reactors after the 2011 Fukushima disaster triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami. However, the country is now pushing to revive nuclear power to cut dependence on fossil fuels, meet rising energy demands, and achieve its carbon neutrality target by 2050.