authentication

Proposal for stricter identity verification starting in 2027

Norbert Gehrke

Norbert Gehrke

— 2 min read
Proposal for stricter identity verification starting in 2027

The National Police Agency has published a "Draft Order Partially Amending the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds".

In line with the "Key Plan for Realizing a Digital Society" (Cabinet Decision, June 21, 2024) and the "Comprehensive Measures to Protect Citizens from Fraud" (Cabinet Meeting on Crime Prevention, June 18, 2024), the draft amendment to the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds (Cabinet Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ordinance No. 1 of 2008) is open for public comment from February 28, 2025 to March 29, 2025. .

This amendment aims to abolish methods of remote identity verification that carry a high risk of spoofing or impersonation through the forgery of identification documents, among other measures.  

Enforcement would eventually be expected as of April 1, 2027

Summary of the Amendment

  • For the verification of identity of natural persons:
    • The methods of receiving image data of identification documents and receiving copies of identification documents will be abolished in principle (※1), and the system will be unified in principle (※2) to use the public personal authentication function of My Number Cards.
    • (※1) Excludes low-risk categories such as opening salary transfer accounts for employees of certain corporations.
    • (※2) Methods with low risk of impersonation, such as receiving IC chip information from IC chip-equipped identification documents (driver's licenses, etc.), will be retained.
  • For the verification of identity of corporations:
    • For the method of receiving originals or copies of identification documents, the use of copies will be abolished, and only originals will be accepted.
  • As a response for those who do not possess IC chip-equipped identification documents:
    • To ensure necessary supplementary measures, the following methods will be retained: receiving originals of certain identification documents (such as copies of resident registration certificates) with anti-forgery measures, and sending transaction documents as non-forwardable mail.

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