警察資料流出 対応の遅れが被害拡大招いた

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 28, 2010)
MPD's delayed response worsened info leak damage
警察資料流出　対応の遅れが被害拡大招いた（12月27日付・読売社説）

The Metropolitan Police Department eventually admitted last week that some of its internal documents on investigations into international terrorism were leaked onto the Internet--nearly two months after the leak was revealed.
　発覚から２か月近くもたって、警視庁が、ネット上に流出した国際テロ捜査に関する資料を内部文書と認めた。

In the meantime, the MPD failed to take necessary action, allowing the online spread of personal information such as names and addresses of informants to continue. A senior MPD officer apologized over the matter, saying, "It's extremely regrettable." But the MPD bears heavy responsibility for having worsened the leak damage.
　この間、必要な対応を怠ってきたため、「捜査協力者」らの実名や住所などの個人情報がネット上で拡散を続けた。警視庁幹部は「極めて遺憾で申し訳ない」と謝罪したが、被害拡大を招いた責任は極めて重大である。

Investigative authorities must take all possible measures to ensure the safety of those whose personal data were leaked as well as conduct thorough investigations to determine who leaked the information online in the first place.
　警察当局は個人情報をさらされている被害者の安全確保に万全を期すとともに、徹底捜査で流出元を突き止めねばならない。

The leaked data included information provided by foreign investigative organizations. The MPD had adamantly refused to admit the leaked information was part of its internal data because it feared it would lose confidence abroad if it referred to the attribution or genuineness of leaked data.
　流出資料には外国捜査機関からの情報が含まれていた。資料の帰属や真偽を語ると、国際的な信用を失うとの理由から、警視庁はこれまで内部文書と認めることをかたくなに拒んできた。

Because of this, the MPD could not even file a complaint when a book carrying the leaked data, including personal information, was published. Faced with mounting criticism over the department's stance of sticking to its position to save face as an organization, the MPD probably had no alternative but to admit the leak of its internal information and apologize.
　このため、個人情報を含む流出資料をそのまま掲載した本が出版されても、抗議すらできなかった。組織としてのメンツにこだわる警察の姿勢に批判が高まったことを受けて、流出を認め、謝罪せざるを得なくなったのだろう。

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No leniency for colleagues

Although pointing out the possibility that the leaked information includes some belonging to its Public Security Bureau, the MPD has avoided specifying which data came from the bureau. The MPD could have acknowledged this much immediately after the leak of the data came to light.
　ただ、流出資料の中に警視庁公安部の情報が含まれている可能性がある、と認めながら、個別にどの資料が内部文書にあたるかの特定は避けている。この程度の説明であれば、流出直後でも十分可能だったはずだ。

In any case, the bureau's sloppy administration of data was also revealed.
　公安部の情報管理のずさんさも明らかになってきた。

The leaked information is believed to have been compiled by the bureau's Third Foreign Affairs Division, which is in charge of investigations into international terrorism. Personal computers for common use by division personnel reportedly included some from which information can be taken easily with the use of a private-use external memory device.
　流出した捜査資料は、国際テロ捜査を担当する公安部外事３課で作成されたとみられている。課内にある共用パソコンには、私用の外部記憶媒体で容易に情報を取り出せるものがあったという。

The MPD has been questioning about 400 members, including some current and past members of the division. The investigation should be conducted strictly without leniency for colleagues.
　警視庁は外事３課に在籍した職員ら４００人から事情を聞いている。身内への甘さを排した厳正な捜査が必要だ。

The MPD has investigated the case on suspicion of obstructing police business through fraudulent means. But the allegation should be switched to a breach of confidentiality in violation of the Local Civil Service Law.
　これまでは、資料流出が警察の警備業務に支障を生じさせたという偽計業務妨害容疑で捜査してきたが、流出行為そのものを問う地方公務員法の守秘義務違反に容疑を切り替えるべきである。

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A way to regain confidence

The Public Security Bureau, in many cases, has narrowed down lists of suspects based on the information collected from informants. Therefore, the information thus gathered is highly confidential. Extreme care should be taken in its handling.
　公安部では捜査協力者から集めた情報を基に容疑者を絞り込むことが多いだけに、情報の機密性は格段に高い。その取り扱いには細心の注意が求められる。

We live in an era in which international cyberterrorism is rampant. Without improvements to prevent leaks of investigative information, it would be difficult for the domestic investigative authorities to regain the confidence of their foreign counterparts.
　ネット上で国境を越えたサイバーテロが頻発する時代である。捜査情報が流出する状態を改善しない限り、海外の捜査機関の信頼を回復することは難しいだろう。

In the process of promptly reexamining its information management system, the MPD must fully secure the confidentiality of electronic information as well as enhance its ability to investigate cybercrimes.
　情報管理態勢を早急に見直す中で、電子情報の機密保持を徹底するとともに、ネット犯罪への捜査能力を高める必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 27, 2010)
（2010年12月27日01時27分 読売新聞）