Keio University X Dignity Center

On Augst 20, 2025 at the Mita Campus of Keio University, a symposium titled, “The importance of privacy protection to preserve human rights and dignity in today’s increasingly data driven world” was held. This symposium was designed to deepen the discussion of privacy from a “human dignity” perspective, with local researchers and experts in privacy, consumer protection, and competition law, joining Apple’s Senior Director of User Privacy, Child Safety and App Platform Integrity.

• Opening

At the outset, Professor Tatsuhiko Yamamoto of Keio University Graduate School of Law (Co-Director of the X Dignity Center) raised the agenda of the symposium: What constitutes the essential elements of privacy in modern society, where controllability over personal data is diminishing? How should privacy be protected? And what role should law and technology play?

• Keynote speech

Erik Neuenschwander, Apple’s Senior Director of User Privacy, Child Safety and App Platform Integrity, spoke about Apple’s long-standing commitment to privacy as a fundamental human right. He introduced the four core privacy principles that have guided Apple’s product and service design for over a decade: data minimization, on-device processing, transparency and user control, and strong security. He also showcased a range of features built into Apple’s platforms to help protect user privacy. Emphasizing that these principles are more important than ever in the age of AI, he outlined Apple’s approach to building technologies that are both powerful and “private and secure by design” to give users peace of mind and protect their rights.

(Keynote speech)

• Panel discussions

Next, Eric Neuenschwander, Professor Tatsuhiko Yamamoto, Professor Shuya Hayashi of Nagoya University Graduate School of Law, Professor Antonios Karaiskos of Ryukoku University Faculty of Law, and Counselor Attorney Kaei Ro of Mori Hamada & Matsumoto participated in the discussion.

In presentations by each panelist, Professor Yamamoto pointed out that in this era of cyber-physical convergence, two elements are crucial to the essence of privacy: “the autonomous decision of who to share personal information with” and “the security structure of the other party.” Professor Karaiskos highlighted the necessity of functionalizing consent from a consumer protection perspective and explained certification systems as measures to ensure transparency and counter dark patterns. Ms. Ro pointed out the complexity of the smartphone environment and demonstrated the significance of the Smartphone Privacy and Security Initiative (SPSI) in promoting the proper handling of user information. Professor Hayashi advocated for the need to incorporate privacy protection perspectives into competition law and stressed the importance of institutional mechanisms to support user trust.

During the panel discussion, opinions were raised regarding the importance of human-centered design, the need to make consent effective through default settings, transparency, and AI utilization, and the necessity of building long-term trust between businesses and consumers without viewing privacy as a cost. Additionally, specific challenges in Japan’s privacy protection, such as delays in protecting children’s data and the fragility of sanctions, were pointed out, leading to multifaceted and lively discussions on privacy.

(Panel discussion)

• Q&A　

Building on the panel discussion, a wide-ranging exchange of views took place on diverse themes including the Smartphone Software Competition Promotion Act (SSCPA) scheduled for implementation in December, data and human dignity, the importance of controllability, the impetus for establishing privacy principles, comprehensive federal-level personal data protection legislation in the United States, the effectiveness of initiatives such as certification systems and SPSI, and literacy enhancement.

• Closing

Finally, each panelist offered comments, reaffirming the importance of building constructive and ongoing communication with diverse stakeholders, including individual consumers, while being mindful of privacy’s future impact and value. This approach involves tackling the issue from every angle. Expectations were also expressed that technology, when implemented with transparency, will enhance human dignity.

(Photo by Aki Takematsu)