公安情報流出―対テロの足元が揺らいだ

専門用語：
the Metropolitan Police Department　警視庁
the Third Foreign Affairs Division of the MPD's Public Security Bureau　警視庁公安部に設けられた外事３課　
the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation　米連邦捜査局
The Public Security Bureau of the MPD　警視庁公安部
the foreign affairs division of police　外事警察
the National Public Safety Commission 国家公安委員会
（スラチャイ）

2010/11/6
--The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 5
EDITORIAL: Leak of terrorism data
公安情報流出―対テロの足元が揺らいだ

As Japan prepares to receive foreign government leaders who will gather in Yokohama for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, an incident that shook police counter-terrorism measures from their foundation occurred.
　横浜に各国首脳が集まるアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）を前に、日本のテロ対策が根底から揺らぐ事態が起きた。

Confidential information believed to be internal documents of the Metropolitan Police Department and other authorities spread on the Internet through file-sharing software. Many of the leaked documents seem to have been made by the Third Foreign Affairs Division of the MPD's Public Security Bureau to investigate and gather intelligence on international terrorism. The division was set up after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.
　警視庁などの内部資料とみられる文書が、ファイル共有ソフトを通じてネット上に広がっている。２００１年の米国同時多発テロを受けて、国際テロ捜査や情報収集のために警視庁公安部に設けられた外事３課が作成したものが中心のようだ。

They include information on foreigners believed to have collaborated with police investigations and plans to question Muslims based on requests by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. In short, police strategy on fighting terrorism has been exposed. A large volume of personal information, including the addresses and mug shots of ordinary citizens and their contacts, was also leaked.
　捜査の協力者とされた外国人の情報や、米連邦捜査局の要請にもとづくイスラム教徒の聴取計画……。警察の対テロ態勢の手の内が暴露された。一般市民の住所や顔写真、交友関係など、多くの個人情報も漏れ出した。

The potential damage to people whose names have been exposed is serious. Some people who provided information to police were listed as having suspected ties with terrorist organizations. If their cooperation with investigators is exposed, their safety could be jeopardized. Under such circumstances, no one would be willing to talk to police.
　名前をさらされた人たちの被害は深刻だ。要請に応じて知っていることを話したら、テロ組織とのかかわりを疑うような記述をされた人がいる。捜査に協力したことがわかれば、危害が及ぶ恐れもある。これでは、警察に話をしようという人はいなくなる。

The situation also damaged the international reputation of the Japanese police. Investigative organizations across the world are trying to prevent terrorism by exchanging secret information. If Japan is seen as incapable of guarding secrets, it would be left out of such networks.
　国際的な信頼も地に落ちた。各国の機関は極秘情報を交換してテロを防ごうとしている。日本は秘密が守れないとみなされれば、そうした連携から外されてしまう。

Out of regard for investigative organizations of other countries, Japanese police are reluctant to admit the leaked documents are their own. But it would be preposterous to use this as an excuse to sweep the problem under the rug.
　警察は他国の機関への手前、文書が自分のところのものとは認めにくい。だがそれを言い訳に、事態の処理をうやむやに済ませるのは論外だ。

Japanese police have already lost credibility. They are urged to specify the documents and ask webmasters of the sites that still carry the leaked information to delete as much of the data as possible. They must also sincerely apologize to the people who suffered because of the leak and try to ensure their safety. And obviously, they must thoroughly check how the information leaked.
信義は既に損なわれている。文書を特定し、漏れた情報が残っているサイトの管理者に可能な限り削除を求める。被害を受けた人に誠実にわび、安全確保に努める。もちろん、流出した経路を徹底して調査しなくてはならない。

Based on an analysis of the data, it is likely that the leakage was done deliberately.
　データの解析から、情報は意図的に持ち出された疑いが強まっている。

If an outsider could have access to so many internal documents, what ties did that person have with the police? If it was an insider, what antipathy or complaints did he or she have?
　外部の人物がこれだけの文書に近づけたとすれば、警察とどんな関係を保っていた人物か。内部ならば、どんな対立や不満があったのか。

The Public Security Bureau of the MPD is virtually the core of Japan's intelligence activities. It has monitored the moves of people deemed dangerous and nurtured providers of information in and around related organizations.
　警視庁公安部は、日本の情報活動の中心機関といっていい。危険とみなした人物の動きを監視し、対象団体内や周辺に情報提供者を養成してきた。

It is difficult to see possible problems at the bureau from the outside because it tends to try to protect itself. Its methods and secretive nature have been a target of deep-rooted criticism.
問題を抱えても、組織を守る論理が先に立ち、外からは見えにくい。その手法と秘密主義には批判が根強い。

However, since international terrorism occurs frequently, more people have come to understand that the foreign affairs division of police that tracks the moves of illegal foreign organizations is a requirement of the times.
　だが国際テロが頻発するなかで、外国からの不法組織を追う外事警察は、時代が求める分野だという理解は広がっているだろう。テレビドラマになったのも記憶に新しい。

To recover public trust in police activities to protect the safety of modern society, the fiasco must be immediately clarified.
　現代社会の安全を守る警察活動への信頼を取り戻すためにも、今回の失態の解明は急務といえる。

As the representative of the public, the National Public Safety Commission that oversees police administration is urged to demand a report and provide guidance to prevent a recurrence.
警察行政を管理する国家公安委員会は報告を求め、市民の代表として再発防止の指導をしなければならない。

The systems to manage information must be re-examined.
　情報の管理態勢を見直すのは言うまでもない。

It may also be necessary to avoid computerization of sensitive information whose handling requires the utmost care.
取り扱いが微妙なものは電子化を避けることも必要だろう。