No. Sharing passwords in Japan violates the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, risking fines up to ¥1 million or imprisonment. The Cybersecurity Basic Act and Telecommunications Business Act further restrict unauthorized access, with the Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) enforcing compliance. Recent 2026 amendments tighten penalties for digital credential misuse, including corporate liability for negligent password handling.
Key Regulations for Sharing Passwords in Japan
- APPI (Act No. 57 of 2003, amended 2026): Prohibits sharing personal authentication credentials without explicit consent, classifying violations as “grave misconduct” under Article 42-2. Entities must document legitimate access purposes or face administrative orders.
- Unfair Competition Prevention Act (Act No. 47 of 1993): Criminalizes password sharing when enabling unauthorized system access (Article 2(1)(xii)), with penalties including up to 3 years imprisonment or ¥3 million in fines for individuals.
- Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984): Mandates service providers to implement technical safeguards against credential sharing (Article 40-2), empowering the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) to audit compliance and impose corrective measures.