Record STMT-WD86B1DSoft law

AI Guidelines for Business

Guidelines State lawEastern Asia · JPadopted

The AI Guidelines for Business (Ver. 1.2, March 2026) issued by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry establish unified guiding principles for AI governance. They present non-binding soft-law guidance based on a risk-based approach, setting out basic philosophies, common guiding principles across the AI lifecycle, and tailored obligations for AI developers, providers, and business users. The document incorporates international frameworks such as the Hiroshima AI Process to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI utilization.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

Ministry of Internal Affairs and CommunicationsGovernment (executive) · JP

Lead issuer

Ministry of Economy, Trade and IndustryGovernment (executive) · JP

Co-issuer

Legal forceSoft law

Under whose authorityState law

Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

CompaniesNational governmentRegulatorsAI developers and providersAI deployers and users

This document is for AI business actors including developers, providers, and business users to understand and implement safe and secure AI practices.

Sectors

Cross-sector

What the document contains

What's covered

The document covers unified guiding principles for AI governance, defining core terms and setting expectations for basic philosophies, common principles, agile governance implementation, and specific roles and precautions for AI developers, providers, and business users.

What's missing

The document lacks legally binding enforcement mechanisms, as it operates entirely as voluntary soft law.

Key takeaways

The guidelines integrate previous Japanese AI frameworks into a unified, non-binding soft-law reference for business actors.
A risk-based approach is emphasized to balance innovation promotion with societal risk mitigation across the AI lifecycle.
AI business actors are categorized into developers, providers, and business users, each with distinct responsibilities.
The framework incorporates the international Hiroshima AI Process Guiding Principles and Code of Conduct for advanced AI systems.
Agile governance cycles involving environment analysis, goal setting, system design, operation, and evaluation are required to manage rapid technological changes.

Principles it states

Human dignity and autonomy of individualsPaying attention to manipulations by AI on decision-makings and emotionsCountermeasures against disinformation, etc.Ensuring diversity/inclusionProviding user supportEnsuring sustainabilitySafetyFairnessPrivacy protectionEnsuring securityTransparencyAccountabilityEducation/literacyEnsuring fair competitionInnovation

Outline

· Preface
· Part 1 Definitions
· Part 2 Society to aim for with AI, and matters each AI business actor works on
· Part 3 Matters Related to AI Developers
· Part 4 Matters Related to AI Providers
· Part 5 Matters Related to AI Business Users

Issued31 March 2026

Length19,010 words · 42 pages

FormatNot recorded

Scopenational

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Accountability

4/5

Clear responsibility for AI outcomes

When developing, providing, or using an AI system or service, it is important that each AI business actor executes its accountability to stakeholders within reasonable extent for ensuring traceability, conforming to common guiding principles

Part 2, C. 7) Accountability

screening score · 2026-10-23

Fairness

4/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

During the development, provision, or use of an AI system or service, it is important that each AI business actor makes efforts to eliminate unfair and harmful bias and discrimination against any specific individuals or groups

Part 2, C. 3) Fairness

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Dignity

4/5

Respect for the inherent worth of persons

Rather than building a society in which effectiveness and convenience are pursued through AI use to the point that humans become excessively dependent on AI and AI is used to control human behaviors, it is necessary to build a society that has respect for human dignity

Part 2, A. Basic philosophies

screening score · 2026-10-23

Human Oversight

4/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

To prevent AI from generating unfair results, consider implementing timely human interventions, rather than letting AI make the decisions alone. It is essential to implement measures to prevent human judgment from being influenced by automation bias

Part 2, C. 3) Intervention by decisions made by humans

screening score · 2026-10-23

Privacy

4/5

Protection of personal data and private life

It is important that during the development, provision, or use of an AI system or service, each AI business actor respects and protects privacy in accordance with its importance. At this time, relevant laws should be obeyed.

Part 2, C. 4) Privacy protection

screening score · 2026-10-23

Transparency

4/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

When developing, providing, or using an AI system or service, based on the social context when the AI system or service is used, it is important that each AI business actor provides stakeholders with information to the reasonable extent necessary

Part 2, C. 6) Transparency

screening score · 2026-10-23

Impact Assessment

4/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

(1) Each AI business actor first conducts an environment and risk analysis for the AI system or service based on the benefits and risks the AI system or service may bring about during the overall lifecycle

Part 2, E. Building AI governance

screening score · 2026-10-23

Topics

ai_governance risk_based_approach agile_governance generative_ai compliance