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Japan’s government on Monday approved a broad package of measures aimed at strengthening cyber defense systems for critical infrastructure operators across 15 sectors, including telecommunications, finance and healthcare.
The initiative was taken up during the first meeting of relevant ministries and agencies focused on rising cyberattack threats amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies.
Officials cited growing risks linked to advanced AI tools, including systems developed by U.S. startup Anthropic, as a factor driving the need for stronger digital defenses.
Under the plan, the government will centralize the collection and analysis of cyber threat intelligence to better support operators of essential services.
Authorities also said they would expand efforts to train cybersecurity professionals and deepen coordination with foreign governments and AI developers.
The package includes measures urging software companies to more quickly address system vulnerabilities and release security patches when flaws are detected.
Senior officials from the Cabinet Secretariat’s National Cybersecurity Office, the National Police Agency, the Financial Services Agency, the Digital Agency and the Defense Ministry attended the meeting.
The government said the initiative formed part of a wider strategy to improve the resilience of critical infrastructure against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
