A Japanese nuclear regulator employee has lost a work-issued smartphone containing a confidential list of contacts, according to an official and local media reports. The incident became public as China continues to apply pressure on Tokyo, following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s suggestion in November that Japan may react militarily if Taiwan were to come under attack.
The lost smartphone was used during disasters such as major earthquakes and contained the names and contact details of staff members in the Nuclear Regulation Authority’s nuclear security division. This information is not made public due to the sensitivity of their work. The device was primarily used for telephone calls and texting, and not for accessing nuclear data at the agency.
The employee is believed to have lost the smartphone at an airport in Shanghai on November 3 while taking items out of carry-on luggage during a security check. The person realized the phone was missing three days later but was unable to locate it. Remotely locking or erasing the data on the phone was also not possible as it was out of range.
The incident was reported in November to a Japanese body that governs proper handling of personal information. The Nuclear Regulation Authority is currently evaluating Tokyo Electric Power’s application to restart the world’s biggest nuclear plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. Japan had suspended nuclear power operations after the 2011 Fukushima atomic plant meltdown but now aims to revive atomic energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The loss of the smartphone has raised concerns about data security, particularly given the sensitive nature of the contacts listed. The Japanese government has been working to strengthen its nuclear security measures, and this incident may prompt further reviews of its protocols. As Japan moves to restart its nuclear plants, the importance of ensuring the secure handling of sensitive information will remain a key priority.
