Published papers

サイバー・フィジカル社会に向けたロボット・AI・アバターの利用に伴い適用される法令と国際標準及びJIS規格を整理する。産業、サービス、協働ロボットなどの技術的特性に基づくロボットの分類とともに、ロボットに関する明文規定がある労働安全、通信規制、経済安全保障、医療、研究開発などの現行法令を確認した上で、ROS（Robot Operating System）の構成要素に基づきロボットの設計、安全性、操作、利用、データ保護など関連法令や規格を把握する。

This paper develops the Normative Framework for AI, first proposed in 2023, and examines the expansion of conformity assessment systems for AI systems and the realisation of integrated certification. In the standardisation of Japan's AI systems, the establishment of JIS Q 42001 has laid the foundation for AI governance based on management system standards. In the EU, the transformation of the Brussels Effect is becoming increasingly evident, characterised by delays in drafting harmonised standards under the AI Act and a trend toward deregulation through Omnibus Proposals. Regarding international standardisation, Japan has made significant contributions to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 42, playing a leading role in multiple working groups. The objective of this paper is to realise Integrated Certification, which combines product certification and management system certification, and its practicality is being validated through research on cybernetic avatar certification. To achieve a trustworthy AI society, it is essential to disseminate best practices in AI governance globally through continued international standardisation activities.

This paper reviews the formation of information law and the evolution of Personal Information Protection from the era of computer-based information processing in the 1970s to the advent of an AI-driven society. At each stage of technological innovation — the emergence of computers, the internet, social networking services and smartphones, and, finally, AI — it examines the legal challenges which arose and the concomitant transformation of the privacy landscape. The analysis surveys developments in domestic and international Personal Information Protection frameworks, including the enactment and subsequent amendments of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), the OECD Privacy Guidelines, the EU GDPR and AI Act, the EU–Japan mutual adequacy findings, and APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) system. Furthemore, illustrating issues likely to emerge as an AI society advances and next-generation technologies evolve, by tracing the historical interplay between technology and law, offers guidance on how legal systems should respond to the transformations brought about by emerging technologies.

Cybernetic avatars integrate physical and virtual avatars to enhance human capabilities in diverse scales and contexts.

Purpose: This study aims to fill the gap in the literature and to explore the potential of using cybernetic avatars as tools for climate and energy transformation within the context of public policies, demonstrating their role in heightening awareness and fostering positive attitudes towards sustainable energy among individuals, as well as enhancing the efficiency and communication of public administration. Design/methodology/approach: In the context of disseminating knowledge about the climate impacts of day-to-day human activities, the authors address main elements that constitute the specific basic terms of reference for a draft framework aimed at using cybernetic avatars as tools for climate and energy transformation. Findings: The symbiosis of consumer awareness, technological innovation, and educational endeavours, facilitated by cybernetic avatars, constitutes the linchpin for an environmentally responsible and sustainable energy future. As the energy sector adapts to the evolving preferences of the new generation, the integration of avatars and advanced technologies emerges as a pivotal factor in sculpting a conscientious and ecologically sustainable energy landscape. Social implications: Energy 4.0 technologies transform the energy sector. Industry 4.0 drives digitalisation, which brings various means, such as Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, blockchain and the metaverse, that reshape energy markets and enable distributed energy transactions. These technologies combine to create the concept of avatarisation, which imagines a digital representation in a virtual world, driving us towards Society 5.0. Originality/value: The authors propose a draft framework for the implementation cybernetic avatars in climate and energy policy (“Nexus Avatar Platform for Sustainable Future”), consisting of three main elements: vision, tool scope, and policy coherence. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=105005869157&origin=inward

Purpose India is a fast-growing economy, that has a majority share in the global information technology industry (IT). Rapid urbanisation and modernisation in India have strained its energy sector, which is being reformed to cope. Despite being the global IT heart and having above average research output in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), India has not yet managed to leverage its benefits to the full. This study aims to address the role of AI and information management (IM) in India’s energy transition to highlight the challenges and barriers to its development and use in the energy sector. Design/methodology/approach The study, through analysis of proposed strategies, current policies, available literature and reports, discusses the role of AI and IM in the energy transition in India, highlighting the current situation and challenges. Findings The results show dispersed research and development incentives for IT in the Indian energy sector; however, the needed holistic top-down approach is lacking, calling for due attention in this matter. Adaptive and swift actions from policymakers towards AI and IM are warranted in India. Practical implications The ongoing transition of the Indian energy sector with the integration of smart technologies would result in increased access to big data. Extracting the maximum benefits from this would require a comprehensive AI and IM policy. Social implications The revolution in AI and robotics must be carried out in line with sustainable development goals, to support climate action and to consider privacy issues – both areas in India must be strengthened. Originality/value The paper offers an original discussion on certain applicable solutions regarding the energy transition of AI coming from the Global South; they are based on lessons learned from the Indian case studies presented in this study.

This article focuses on issues which need to be considered in aiming to ensure both the effectiveness of infectious disease control measures and the protection of the right to privacy from the following perspectives. 　(1) Issues regarding the restriction of the right to privacy in emergency situations, including (i) the types of measures taken in emergency situations and issues with respect to the restriction of the right to privacy in emergency situations, (ii) the normalisation, constancy and fixation of exceptional measures in emergency situations, (iii) dual-use and use for purposes different from those originally intended, (iv) acquisition of secondary information and the emergence of unexpected situations (e.g. the applicability of "body temperature" to special care-required personal information and the acquisition of secondary information associated with the measurement of body temperature, and examples of mission creep); and (5) the need to respond to over-reaction without recognising the urgency of the situation. 　(2) Issues concerning privacy in countermeasures against infectious diseases, including (i) the procedures for requesting and disclosing personal information and privacy, (ii) the obligation to cooperate in active epidemiological investigations of specific patients and others based on the amended Infectious Diseases Control Act and restrictions on the right to privacy, (iii) the applicability of personal information concerning the acceptance of tests and other examinations as special care-required personal information, and (iv) the need to respond to over-reaction without recognising the urgency of the situation. (ii) the necessity of the implementation of information security management measures in relation to infectious disease countermeasures. 　(3) Issues concerning the use of technology for the purpose of countermeasures against infectious diseases and privacy, including (i) the use of GPS location information, (ii) considerations required to resolve concerns in the introduction and spread of contact confirmation applications, (iii) the acquisition of biometric information and the use of biometrics, and (iv) sewage epidemiological surveys and privacy (privacy of drainage).

In order to identify international trends in AI governance , this paper overviewed the status of AI-related legislation in 74 countries and institutions and analysed the current status of main trends in relation to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, (OECD), the G7 Summit, the United Nations, the AI Safety Summit, and Brazil, Canada, China, the EU, Peru, the UK, and the US, which have started to develop legislation for AI governance. Through this research, international trends in AI regulation legislation have been surveyed and analysed to contribute to policy-making which will support the future of AI governance.

We are currently promoting a project to develop (physical or virtual) avatar technology and to create a society where everyone can engage in various activities as they wish, beyond physical constraints, by using avatars. We are particularly concerned with enriching our communications, interactions, and relationships through avatars. However, this aim cannot be achieved by technology alone. We have to consider the ELSI (ethical, legal and social issues) concerning avatars as well. In this workshop, the speakers will introduce some of our technologies and then raise ethical and legal questions concerning avatars. Then we would like to discuss these issues with all the participants.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the legal implications of cybernetic avatars (CA), which will be used in our daily life as remotely operated and autonomous robots. Such legal aspects consider the research, development, and use of 'cyber-physical systems (CPS)', which combine 'cyber' and 'physical' elements, and are referred to as the 'avatar law'. The legal issues regarding CA need to be considered from the same perspective not only in Japan but also internationally.

With recent technological developments, such as machine learning, data collection has become increasingly important. However, due to privacy issues, there is an ethical problem in collecting data on everyday activities. In this study, we aimed to develop a mechanism for acquiring consent interactively by using a robot and, as a first step, focus on a dialogue strategy in which users feel safe to provide their data. Specifically, we investigated the effects of reminder and rationale provided by the robot in situations where consent is obtained. We conducted two experiments in which users conversed with a virtual robot agent in a crowd setting. We found that the robot reminder improved the degree of understanding regarding the use of data. In addition, the permission rate was improved by robot notifications. However, no effect of rationale was observed. These results contribute to the discussion on the ethical aspects of data collection by robots.

Smart cities do not exist without robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). During the COVID-19 pandemic, they can assist in combating the novelcoronavirus and its effects, and preventing its spread. However, their deployment necessitate the most secure, safe, and efficient use. Thepurpose of this article is to address the regulatory framework for AI and robotics in the context of developing resilient organisations in smart citiesduring the COVID-19 pandemic. The study provides regulatory insights necessary to re-examine the strategic management of technology creation,dissemination, and application in smart cities, in order to address the issues regarding the strategic management of innovation policies nationally,regionally, and worldwide. To meet these goals, the article analyses government materials, such as strategies, policies, legislation, reports, andliterature. It also juxtaposes materials and case studies, with the help of expert knowledge. The authors emphasise the imminent need forcoordinated strategies to regulate AI and robots designed for improving digital and smart public health services globally.

This article aims to illustrate the basis for the development of authentication, which will be the foundation of future cybernetic-avatar (CA) infrastructures, enabling the safe and secure use of CA’s. This will be realised by the authentication of CA operators (User Authentication Technology), identification and authentication of CA’s (CA Authentication), and ensuring connectivity and existence between operators (User Entities) and the CA’s themselves (CA Notarisation). An ELSI (Ethical, Legal, Social Implications) research platform will be established, to develop a new dimension of the legal field, that is, AI, Robot, and Avatar Law to solve the social issues and realise an avatar lifestyle.

AI統治（ガバナンス）の国際的な動向を把握するため、74の国及び機関のAI関係の法整備の状況を調査。国際的な取り組みについては、経済協力開発機構（OECD）、G7サミット、国際連合、AI Safety Summit、AI統治に向けた法整備に着手しているブラジル、カナダ、中国、EU、ペルー、イギリス、米国の現状を紹介。AI統治のゆくえを考える上での基礎資料として、AI規制に関する法整備の国際的な趨向を調査し分析する。

民間部門におけるAIの利用や研究開発が注目されがちであるが、公的部門における利用において検討が必要な課題も多い。国外のAI規制に関する議論においては、行政におけるAI利用に関する方針も示されつつある。これらの点を踏まえ、各国のAI規制を紹介することで、AI技術の一層の発展と社会的な影響を探求し期待しつつも、AIの利用に関する適切な法規制やガイドライン等の整備の検討に資する現況を把握したい。

This paper (i) proposes the "rules (regulations)" necessary for the research and development, use, sale and supply of AI systems and services, (ii) respects voluntary efforts to comply with them, (iii) establishes "rules (harmonised standards, technical standards and requirements)" to act as "de facto mandatory standards" in the sale and supply of services, (iv) establishes management system standards to plan, implement, check and act on them, (v) establishes a legal basis for disciplining these mechanisms, and (vi) establishes the 'AI Supervisory Commission (tentative name)', (vii) which will unveil the concept of AI regulation with the 'Japanese AI System Conformity Assessment System'. On the other hand, instead of continuing the trial-and-error approach of considering soft law, which is expected to be exclusively self-disciplining and may not need to be observed, the aim is to overcome the resistance to hard law associated with the introduction of regulations (such as legal prohibitions on substantive issues), against which there are persistent objections, and to address the issues of principles and guidelines that have been discussed so far. To achieve this goal, this paper attempts to move away from the theory of law and regulation avoidance, which leaves compliance to voluntary initiatives and does not regulate through hard law, to 'optimise' AI regulation in the light of international trends, and to propose new measures that will contribute to future AI regulatory policy in the research, development and use of AI.