Japan’s nuclear safety regulator has reported the loss of a work-issued smartphone containing highly sensitive contact details after an employee misplaced the device during a personal trip to China, according to Japanese media and international news agencies, raising fresh questions about security practices within the country’s nuclear oversight system. According to AFP, the phone belonged to an employee of the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) and contained confidential names and contact details of staff responsible for nuclear security. Such information is not made public due to the sensitive nature of their work.
An NRA official told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the smartphone was issued for use during disasters such as major earthquakes and was primarily used for calls and text messages. The official said the device did not provide access to nuclear facility data. The incident was reported in November to Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission, which oversees the handling of personal data. Citing unnamed sources, Kyodo News reported that the phone was likely lost on November 3 while the employee was removing items from carry-on luggage during a security check at an airport in Shanghai. The loss was noticed three days later, but the device could not be recovered despite inquiries with airport authorities. Kyodo also reported that remotely locking or erasing the data on the phone was not possible because the device was out of range. Major Japanese media, including the Asahi Shimbun, said the phone contained contact details of personnel in the NRA’s nuclear security division, which is responsible for protecting nuclear materials from threats such as terrorism and theft. “As a rule, the identities and direct contact details of personnel involved in nuclear security are kept confidential to minimize security risks,” the Japan Times reported.AFP noted that China has been increasing pressure on Tokyo following comments by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November suggesting Japan may respond militarily if Taiwan were attacked. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force. The disclosure also comes as Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) moves to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the world’s largest, later this month. The NRA is currently evaluating TEPCO’s application, AFP reported. Japan shut down all nuclear reactors following the 2011 Fukushima disaster triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami. However, the resource-poor country is now seeking to revive nuclear energy to cut reliance on fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and meet rising power demand, including from artificial intelligence, according to AFP.
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