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Report: Japan's MIC asks telecom carriers to block GMO attacker sites

Security1 min read

Japan's internet regulator, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), reportedly asked phone and internet companies to block a hacker's website. The site posted personal data said to belong to customers of GMO Internet.

What happened

Several Japanese newspapers reported on October 29 that MIC asked telecom companies to block access to a website run by the attackers. The site showed personal information said to belong to GMO Internet's customers. The request was sent on October 27 through four industry groups, including the Telecommunications Carriers Association. As of the report, the companies had not said whether they had actually blocked the site.

Key facts

  • The request was dated October 27, 2026.
  • It was sent through four industry groups to individual companies.
  • On October 28, GMO said the attacker's site and its mirror sites had their domains shut down.
  • Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, Kihara Minoru, declined to give details, saying the matter was still ongoing.

Why blocking is a big deal

Blocking a website means stopping internet users from reaching it. To do this, a company must know where every user is going. This can clash with the constitutional right to secrecy of communications, which protects what people send and read online. One telecom executive said it was hard to decide whether to carry out the request.

Why it matters

The story shows how a data leak can spread. Officials worry that stolen personal data could be used to commit more crimes against the people involved. The case also raises a hard question: how far should the government go to stop harmful content, and how much should it protect privacy? Nikkei reported that the site became unreachable, so the block may not have been needed.

What to watch

  • Whether telecom companies say if they blocked the site.
  • Whether the government formally orders blocking or drops the request.
  • Further details from GMO about the hack and the stolen data.
  • Any legal action against people who spread the data.

Glossary

GMO Internet
A Japanese internet services company. It was hit by unauthorized access in this case.
Blocking
Stopping users from reaching a website, usually by the internet provider.
Telecommunications Carriers Association
An industry group of Japanese phone and internet companies.

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