A PYMNTS Company

Japan Steps Up Pressure on US Tech Giants Over Security and AI

By  |  November 5, 2026
big tech giants

Japan is seeking greater access to information about software security vulnerabilities from major US technology and artificial intelligence companies, as the government responds to a rise in cyberattacks and intensifies its oversight of the technology sector.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    Subscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The initiative, reported by MLex, reflects Tokyo’s efforts to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with foreign technology providers whose products and services are widely used across the Japanese economy.

    The move comes amid broader regulatory scrutiny of major technology companies in Japan, including questions about their commercial practices and the handling of data used in artificial intelligence, according to a separate report by MLex.

    According to Reuters, citing Nikkei, Japanese officials are preparing an emergency cybersecurity package that could be discussed at a ministerial meeting as soon as Friday, Nov. 6. The proposed measures would focus on obtaining advance notice of significant software weaknesses, giving public agencies and operators of essential services more time to protect their systems before technical details become widely available.

    Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi directed officials in late October to develop stronger cybersecurity protections following an increase in attacks, Nikkei reported, according to MLex.

    The urgency follows a series of disruptions in October involving government and corporate websites across multiple countries. Reuters reported that the disclosure of serious security flaws affecting the PHP programming language led to millions of attempted intrusions, prompting some website administrators to restrict access or temporarily take systems offline.

    Japan has also announced plans to establish a team that will use artificial intelligence to simulate cyberattacks and uncover weaknesses in computer systems, Reuters reported. The initiative would add automated testing capabilities to the country’s efforts to identify potential security threats.

    The government has separately approached major US artificial intelligence developers, including OpenAI and Anthropic, about obtaining broader access to their advanced AI models, according to Nikkei as cited by Reuters. Those discussions followed cyberattacks suspected of involving AI-assisted techniques.

    Earlier disclosure of software vulnerabilities could allow Japanese authorities to coordinate protective measures before attackers exploit newly discovered flaws. The approach would also raise questions about how technology companies manage sensitive security information and determine which governments or organizations receive access before public disclosure.

    The cybersecurity initiative comes as Japan examines the influence of major technology companies over digital markets. MLex has reported on scrutiny of Big Tech companies’ business practices and the use of data in artificial intelligence, highlighting a separate area of regulatory attention.

    Source: MLex