JAPAN'S government has released a draft revision of its AI Basic Plan that proposes closer cooperation with foreign governments and artificial intelligence developers while expanding measures to address cyber threats and AI-generated misinformation.
The draft cites the growing risk of cyberattacks exploiting advanced AI models and calls for support in developing technologies that can detect AI-generated content to help counter misinformation and disinformation.
Responding to the proposed revisions, Takanori Nishiyama, senior vice president for Asia-Pacific and Japan country manager at Keeper Security, said the changes reflect the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape.
"Japan's decision to revise its AI Basic Plan six months after its release speaks to how quickly the risk landscape is shifting," Nishiyama said.
He said AI is increasingly being used to support cyberattacks, including social engineering, malware development, password cracking and phishing campaigns, while advanced AI models could enable attackers to identify and exploit system vulnerabilities more quickly.
Nishiyama said organizations should automate security updates for internet-facing systems, prioritize security patches, maintain comprehensive logging and implement multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential breaches.
He added that privileged access management could further strengthen defenses by limiting administrative access through just-in-time privileges and secure credential management.
"The principles underpinning good cybersecurity have not changed significantly with the arrival of more capable AI," Nishiyama said. "What has changed is the importance of applying them consistently."
He said organizations that strengthen identity and access management, adopt zero-trust security principles and maintain strong credential hygiene would be better positioned to manage AI-related cyber risks.
