Privacy Policy for News Reporting and Writing
(News Gathering, Program Production, Broadcasting, Writing)

  • Basic Position

    As a news organization, NHK collects and uses a variety of personal data relating to individuals for news gathering and program production.

    Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information imposes obligations on businesses when handling personal information for the sake of protecting the rights and interests of individuals. However, these provisions do not apply to news organizations or individuals engaged in writing as work when they are handling personal information for the purpose of news reporting or writing.* The mission of a news organization is to shed light on the truth, confront injustice, and convey information that should be shared by society. We believe that the exclusion from the law is an essential provision for a news organization to protect the "freedom of news reporting" and "freedom of expression" and respond to the public's right to know without any interference.

    The existence of these exemptions, however, does not mean that it is permissible to handle personal information negligently. On the contrary, because of the exclusion from the law NHK believes self-discipline is necessary.

    NHK also holds personal information relating to NHK receiving contracts and that is not for the purposes of news reporting and writing, and this information is regulated by the Act on the Protection of Personal Information. For this reason, personal information handled for the purposes of news reporting and writing, which are excluded from the Act, is clearly separated from personal information used for other purposes and managed so that they don't get mixed up.

    The purpose of this Privacy Policy for News Reporting and Writing is to communicate in a comprehensible manner, in accordance with the NHK Charter on Personal Data (NHK Charter on Personal Data), the basic concepts and policies for the protection of personal data that NHK handles in news gathering, program production, broadcasting, writing, and other operations for the purposes of news reporting and writing. We promise to handle personal information appropriately in the process of news gathering and program production.

    *The term "writing" is a broad concept encompassing not only books, but also the production of video content, such as programs for broadcast, and other forms of expression.

  • Definitions

    In this policy, the meanings of the terms "personal information" and "personal data" shall be in accordance with the provisions in the Act on the Protection of Personal Information.

    The term "personal data" means "information about living individuals" as defined in the Act on the Protection of Personal Information; it consists of "personal information," "pseudonymously processed information," "anonymously processed information," and "information relating to an individual," as defined under the said Act.

    • Specific Handling Guidelines

  • 1. Purpose of use of personal information

    NHK shall not handle any personal information collected for the purposes of news reporting and writing beyond that scope unless there is a justifiable reason for doing so.

  • 2. Separation from data handled for other purposes

    Personal information handled for purposes of news reporting and writing will be clearly separated, organizationally and technically, from personal information that is used for other purposes, and will be properly managed so that they don't get mixed up.

  • 3. Security Management Measures

    We will take necessary security control measures for managing personal data appropriately, including the prevention of leakage, loss or damage.

    The security management measures for personal data are as follows:

    1. Establishment of discipline:
      • - We have established internal rules regarding how to handle personal data and who is responsible/who is in charge, their responsibilities.
    2. Organizational safety management measures:
      • - We will appoint a person/s responsible for the handling of personal data and set up a reporting and communication system for when there is any actual or sign of an infringement of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information or any internal rules.
      • - We will carry out periodic self-checks about the handling of personal data and also have audits by the in-house auditing section.
    3. Human security management measures:
      • - Clarify where responsibility lies for the handling of personal data, and provide employees with the necessary training and raise awareness.
    4. Physical security management measures:
      • - Take measures to prevent the theft, loss of equipment, electronic media, documents, etc. that handle personal data.
      • - Take measures to ensure personal data isn't easily identified when equipment, electronic media, etc. are being carried.
    5. Technical security management measures:
      • - Limit the employees authorized to access personal data and confirm their authorization each time.
      • - Manage access of personal data by storing records of such access, etc.
      • - Take measures to prevent unauthorized access through telecommunications lines.
  • 4. Selection and Supervision of Contractors

    When the handling of personal data is being entrusted to another entity, NHK will select a contractor that can handle the said data in a proper manner, and will supervise the contractor to ensure that it exercises proper security management.

  • 5. Leaks

    In the event that a leakage, loss or damage of personal data is discovered, we will take appropriate measures such as investigate the cause, preventing the spread of damage, and preventing any reoccurrence.

  • 6. Handling of Personal Data

    Even in cases where personal data that does not identify an individual is collected and handled for news reporting and writing, we will take security control measures and manage the data appropriately.

  • Inquiries

    Any questions or complaints concerning the handling of personal data can be made to contacts in this NHK inquiries website.

  • Modification of this Policy

    NHK may change this policy as needed. In the event that this policy is changed, NHK will publicly announce the effective date and content of the changed policy on the NHK website or by other appropriate means.

Effective date: April 1, 2022

In the event of any discrepancies or contradictions between the Japanese-language version and this English-translated version of the Privacy Policy for News Reporting and Writing, the Japanese-language version shall prevail.

Japanese-language version of the Privacy Policy for News Reporting and Writing:
(https://www.nhk.or.jp/privacy/policy/media/)