Tokyo International News Agency

On July 10, 2026, the Japanese National Diet passed the "Amended Act on the Protection of Personal Information," which includes measures to promote AI development. While the amendment aims to deregulate data usage to foster innovation, it introduces an "AI Exemption" that allows for the provision and use of highly sensitive data—such as medical history, religious beliefs, and information on disabilities—for AI development and statistical purposes without the individual's explicit consent. This has triggered significant public backlash. Concerns Surrounding the "AI Exemption" The revised law eases regulations on the acquisition and provision of personal data to strengthen the competitiveness of Japan's AI industry. However, the prospect that sensitive information, which has historically been strictly protected, could now be utilized without prior consent has sparked harsh criticism. Critics argue it constitutes a "violation of privacy" and...

In recent years, the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has been remarkable, with its capabilities spanning a wide range of fields. Particularly on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), a new trend is rapidly spreading where users are having AI profile 'real person personas' based on their own posts. Many users are calling on X's AI feature, 'Grok,' to 'imagine and tell me the real persona from this account's posts,' seeking detailed information extraction. The range of questions is diverse, from basic personal information such as age, gender, occupation, annual income, place of residence, and family structure, to extremely personal information like hobbies, thoughts, personality, and even 'favorite idols/characters' (oshi), 'sexual preferences' (seiheki), real name, favorite food, height, weight, and suitable colors. As an example of a profile generated by Grok, responses included: 'Gender: Female (from cute phrasi...