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Times Car data leak: company offers ¥3,000 condolence payment if driver's license image leak is confirmed, but critics warn the verification asks users to re-enter personal information
SecurityFirst seen 30 points
Times Car, a car-sharing company in Japan, had a data leak where driver's license photos were stolen. It said it would pay 3,000 yen to each victim, but people are angry, and some say the check process asks for more personal data.
What happened
Times Car (Times CAR) is a car-sharing service. Someone got into its web system without permission and stole personal data, including photos of driver's licenses. On October 23, 2026, the company said it would pay 3,000 yen as an apology to each person whose license photo was confirmed as leaked. Many users are not happy with this amount or the rules for getting it.
Key numbers and facts
- Apology payment: 3,000 yen per person
- About 1.46 million license photos were reportedly leaked
- Victims are reportedly planning a group lawsuit
- To get the payment, people must first check whether their data was leaked
Why people are upset
To find out if their data leaked, people are asked to type in their name, address, and other details on the company's site. Some people who had already quit the service say they were asked to enter a lot of personal information just to check. Critics say this is the same trick scammers use: they ask victims for more data after a leak.
Why it matters
A leak of driver's license photos can be used for identity theft and fake accounts. If the process to check for a leak asks for even more personal data, people may lose trust and may be tricked again. The story is a reminder to be careful when a company asks for your details after a data breach.
What to watch
- Whether the group lawsuit moves forward
- Whether Times Car changes how it checks for leaks
- Whether the company pays more or changes its rules for people who already left the service
- Scam emails or fake sites that copy the company's apology notice