National Police Agency recommends introduction of "remote analysis" to counter anonymous and mobile criminal groups

Citing the urgent need for new measures to prevent damage caused by anonymous and mobile criminal groups (Tokuryu), the National Police Agency's expert panel compiled a recommendation on the 24th that ``remote analysis'', which obtains communications and information from smartphones used by Tokuryu to commit crimes, should be introduced as soon as possible. The agency will accelerate the implementation of the system and aim to submit a bill to revise the Police Officer Duties Execution Act at the next extraordinary Diet session.

Tokuryu's special scams and robberies use highly confidential communication apps with features such as encryption and automatic erasure. Conventional methods such as wiretapping have not been able to ascertain the details of the incident, making it difficult to identify higher-level leaders and targets of the crime.

Remote analysis involves operating terminals believed to belong to those in charge from outside to obtain information, which can be used to break anonymity and prevent damage. The steps are as follows: (1) Identifying the device through investigation, (2) Obtaining permission from the court, (3) Accessing the device, (4) Ascertaining the next crime plan and target, and (5) Preventing damage and deterring the crime.

The proposal states that remote analysis should only be carried out in cases where there is a risk of serious criminal damage and there is no other way to obtain information, and that the target devices should be limited to devices that could reasonably be used by criminals, such as communications within criminal groups or fraudulent phone calls. The amount of information obtained is expected to be the same as if the actual item were seized, including criminal plans and member information. All irrelevant information will be deleted and there will be no continuous monitoring.

The method of implementation is assumed to be hacking using an investigative program, but it has not been disclosed, saying countermeasures will be taken.

Because it involves the confidentiality of communications guaranteed by the Constitution, it is a condition that permission from the court be obtained in advance. Access to the information on the device is limited to analysis personnel designated by the Commissioner of the National Police Agency. Only necessary information is conveyed to the investigation department, and all cases are reported to the Public Safety Commission for review to ensure appropriateness. Subjects will be notified after the fact to the extent possible.

At the review meeting on the same day, Toshihiro Kawade, a professor at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School, who chaired the committee, requested, ``I want them to gain the trust of the public and produce steady results in preventing damage.'' Yoshiyuki Morimoto, Chief Cabinet Secretary of the National Police Agency, responded, ``We will implement the system as soon as possible so that we can prevent serious damage by introducing it as soon as possible.''