Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority is investigating the loss of a work-issued smartphone containing highly sensitive personal information after an employee misplaced the device during a private trip to China last year, according to officials and sources familiar with the matter.
The employee, who works for the Secretariat of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, was visiting Shanghai until November 3 and is believed to have lost the phone during an airport security screening while preparing to return to Japan. The loss was reported to the Secretariat on November 6, several days after the device went missing. The smartphone has not been recovered.
The device contained the names and contact details of staff members involved in nuclear security, including personnel responsible for anti-terrorism measures and the protection of nuclear materials at domestic power facilities. Such information is tightly controlled and not made public due to the potential risks associated with terrorist attacks or the theft of nuclear materials.
In a report to Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission, the nuclear watchdog said it could not rule out the possibility of an information leak, although there is currently no evidence that the data stored on the phone has been accessed or misused. Officials said the phone could not be remotely locked or wiped because it was out of range after being lost.
The Nuclear Regulation Authority noted that staff issued with work smartphones are instructed to carry them at all times, including during overseas travel, to ensure they can respond quickly in the event of an emergency. However, following the incident, the Secretariat said it plans to review these rules and consider measures to prevent a recurrence, including restricting the carrying of workplace smartphones on foreign trips.
An official from the authority said efforts are underway to strengthen information management and reassess internal policies, underscoring the seriousness with which the agency views the handling of sensitive data related to nuclear security.
