New edition of Creating a Super Free Society 1: Introduction

 ■ New edition of Creating a Super Free Society 1: Introduction

　It's been two years since I wrote "Creating a super free society." In the Coronavirus invasion, the situation has changed. So I rewrote about half of it and published a new edition. The subtitle is "After Coronavirus is the era of cats." I stopped using paper and made it digital (Kindle).

I’ll show some of it here.

First, the introduction.

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It was not supposed to be like this.

Rattle, the world of Reiwa has dawned. It is the second coming of the age of technology. After 25 years from digital and 10 years from smart, the super smart with AI/IoT/data is coming.

AI and robots will take away jobs. Even if you take away our jobs, if we don't change our stance, we won’t have anything to do. If you take it away quickly, we will be super free. Let it be so.

Let's have super time killing. Super pop super entertainment, super sports, super education. A super city for that purpose. At the beginning of Reiwa, the door of super tech will be fully opened. Will it be around 2030 that we will enter a super free society? Imagine and create.

Therefore, in the first year of Reiwa, I wrote a book called "Creating a super free society." I drew an action plan for how to create that society.

The Meiji, Taisho, Showa, and Heisei eras mark the beginnings and turns of the modern world, opening a new world where humans have never been before, and a new civilization where machines surpass human capabilities and objects communicate with each other. It is a book that embodies Reiwa.

Germany identified the 4th industrial revolution, that is, the era after the 3rd industrial revolution called the information industry. Society 5.0, as the Japanese government calls it, is the fifth civilization after hunting, agriculture, industry, and information. I wrote this with a view to ten years from now.

However, before we entered the super free society, the Coronavirus rained down from the heavens. Stay still and withdraw. In an unexpected way, I was super bored. I thought it would be a super free society!

　But we can't do telework or remote classes. I noticed. Japan had not reached the third industrial revolution or Society 4.0. Information was not available. With this, the third phase, 4.0, will finally come. Thanks to Coronavirus, Japan can also move on to the next super free society.

The modern era has become a dual threat of capitalism and democracy, based on the state. However, IT lowers costs, expands sharing, and shakes GDP growth. Countries are increasingly divided, and democracy is shaken. Non-democratic powers may weather the Coronavirus better.

On the other hand, Coronavirus will doom the urban civilization of thousands of years BC (Before Coronavirus) until 2020. Get away. Scatter. Shut up. And they demand technology, such as vaccines and tracking capabilities. The AC (after Coronavirus) hybrid has not yet been designed.

　So I decided to rewrite the foreword. Tech & pop's super free society is coming. However, Coronavirus adds another axis called hybrid. And I urge us, who are withdrawn, to quickly put on super-tech costumes. Let's do it.

Based on the previous book, this book overwrites Coronavirus.

All the activities I'm doing for a super free society are projects for after Coronavirus. A special zone "CiP" where tech and pop gather has been opened in Takeshiba in the Tokyo Bay Area. We opened a real and virtual university "iU" for all entrepreneurs. The action itself hasn't changed, but it continues to question the meaning of after Coronavirus.

Atmosphere is still a problem. Blow away the shrinking air. The ventilation that Coronavirus demands is a signal to us, who have been depressed by the digital defeat for 2018, to turn on the switch of the huge ventilation fan. Sprinkle AI powder and take a deep breath. Let's run. Break it down and build it.

By the way, in each item, the title of the song appears. Like “Eclair” (Okazaki Taiiku). Good songs with good people. It is recommended to play in the background while reading. I pray for reading with music.

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What should the post office do in the digital age?

■What should the post office do in the digital age?

“Round-table conference on postal services in the digital age”

An interim summary has been announced.

I will act as chairperson.

I also gave a presentation.

We will be forced to digitize in the midst of the declining birthrate and aging population and the impact of Coronavirus.

The number of mail items has decreased by 40% over the past eight years. Under the long-term low interest rate environment, fund management at Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance was difficult, and there were also scandals.

Now, how does the postal service deal with data utilization and regional revitalization?

That's the question.

In the report, digitization and data utilization considers

(1) Improving operational efficiency and improving the quality of existing services

(2) Creation of new businesses (income sources)

(3) Utilization for public services

I decided that it should be divided into these items.

It consists of three aspects: defense, offense, and public use.

① About defense.

"Regarding the data that the postal service already possesses, such as delivery records and customer information, a wide range of uses should be considered, including the use of ‘pseudonymized information,’ centered on the use of data that is already held by the postal service as part of our core business, while giving due consideration to the protection of the confidentiality of correspondence and personal information. "

② About offense.

"We should develop and provide attractive new services that ‘focus on individuals’ and ‘assume obtaining consent’ for users (from ‘anonymous masses’ to ‘named individual customers,’ and we should switch to ‘experience’ and move toward ‘creating new relationships with users.’) "

Furthermore, the Japan Post Group should provide a "platform business" that makes maximum use of post office network resources, and it is necessary to actively seek partnerships with external companies.

This is the point that I also pushed in my presentation.

"For example, it is important to try participating in projects such as 'smart city' and 'education' that are made up of stakeholders from various industries, raising awareness of different fields, discovering hints for business services, and discovering partners."

CiP and super-education activities I'm promoting will also be helpful.

The following is a concrete service image.

・Become an “information bank” and provide local residents with monitoring, remote medical examinations, insurance services, etc.

・Participate in projects utilizing “Smart City” and “MaaS,” and provide delivery by drone, mixed cargo, and passenger services, etc.

I would like to make two comments on the interim summary.

1) In addition to providing social and economic infrastructure, special public corporations in telecommunications and broadcasting have the dual responsibility of leading the way in cutting-edge fields.

Postal services are also expected to play a leading role in the latter.

I expect aggressive development of information banks, smart cities, and platforms.

2) However, since it is a management strategy of a private company called Japan Post, the sorting here should be limited to images and hints.

On the other hand, what matters is what countries and governments do in this regard.

It would be good to dig deeper into that area.

In my presentation, I said, "It wouldn't be strange for Rakuten to become a telecommunications carrier or enter the ICT business. It wouldn't be surprising if the post office took Rakuten's position." I felt like I was frozen.

Did I say too much?

However, after the interim summary meeting, Japan Post and Rakuten announced a capital tie-up.

Surprising.

But is it really?

The companies will step in with their own DX strategy rather than discussing that of others.

It is something that I see often.

Is it a scene change? Understood.

That's what it means.

For now, that’s the report.

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Open Data Handyman Award

 ■ Open Data Handyman Award

Open Data 2020 Self Award Online Award Ceremony.

This is the eighth time that VLED has own its own awarded open data initiatives.

Last time, it was regrettable that the ceremony was canceled due to the influence of Coronavirus.

This time, it was held online somehow, and I served as the chief judge again this year, and gave my greetings.

As an effort to award own its own,

“Thank you for the award,” is the first thing that I want to say.

The "Basic Bill for Forming a Digital Society" has been submitted to the Diet, and the establishment of the Digital Agency is also underway.

Finally, for the first time, I recognize that digital has become the most important issue of national policy.

Even though the e-Japan strategy was put up 20 years ago, the importance of the policy remained low and did not move.

This is the last chance.

In particular, the importance of data has been recognized in recent DX discussions.

We hope that open data will contribute to DX in Coronavirus and form a rich digital environment.

So far, self-recognition has been in a wide variety of genres such as administration, disaster prevention, education, life, tourism, and business, and the lineup has become diverse, including the government, local governments, public interest corporations, corporations, and individuals. 

However, the presence of “academics” among “industry, government, and academia” is still weak.

I accept it as a warning to myself.

Many of the awards this time are related to Coronavirus countermeasures.

It's a reflection of everyone's efforts to fight Coronavirus, and it's a matter of course.

That effort must continue.

I pray that open data will be useful for after-Coronavirus and with-Coronavirus.

Grand Prize

Tokyo Novel Coronavirus Infectious Disease Control Site

Tokyo Strategic Policy Information Promotion Headquarters

Committee member's comment: As an open source project for public services, it was an excellent example even from a global scale. The result was that the power of open data and civic tech was widely known to society. And so on.

Excellence Award ①

Shin Telework System / Municipal Telework System

Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems, NTT East Japan

Committee member's comment: I highly appreciate the technical solution to the network infrastructure problem, which is the biggest barrier to telework during the new Coronavirus crisis, and the fact that it is being provided as an actual service that is used by more than 100,000 people. And so on.

Excellence Award②

COVID-19 Infection Prediction (Japan Version)

Google

Committee member's comment: In addition to data visualization, we are making advanced use of prediction by AI. / CSV open data utilization example by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare! / I think that the significance of making global infection predictions and publishing them is great. And so on.

In addition, six contribution awards were selected, and the "Complete Award" was given to Aomori, Ishikawa, and Shizuoka prefectures for having all local governments in the prefecture working on open data.

As a sponsor award, from my side, in addition to the Fusion Research Institute Award, Digital Risk Association Award, and CiP Council Award, this year also included the establishment of the iU Award.

The first iU Award was awarded to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology at "GIGA School!"

Thank you for the award!

Finally a general review.

Coronavirus projects such as measures and predictions of infectious diseases, local government telework, etc. stood out.

The winners are local governments, governments, public interest corporations, corporations, and snacks. I could see everyone working together.

"Useful" data for ending Coronavirus.

Next year, I want to see "fun" and "happy" data after Coronavirus!

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Intellectual Property Headquarters Copyright Task Force: Part 2

■ Intellectual Property Headquarters Copyright Task Force: Part 2

Intellectual Property Headquarters Copyright Task Force, Interim Summary, Continued.

Based on the bold recognition explained in the first part, the second half, "Compatibility between measures to facilitate use in response to the digital age and protection of rights holders' interests," organizes the issues of each theory.

Formulation of usage guidelines that balance the development of UGC and respect for rights holders. Promoting the development of a rights information database. Optimization of content production transactions. These are the kinds of items discussed.

It also suggests reviewing the provisions of the copyright law regarding situations where analog and digital, real and online have different effects on the interests of rights holders.

Regarding the difference in rights between broadcasting and the Internet, the Agency for Cultural Affairs has taken the initiative to take steps to address this issue. It will be interesting to see if there are other cases like this.

The point to pay attention to is the mention of “utilization of soft law.”

The legal system, i.e., hard law, was emphasized in copyright, and disputes tended to be left to the courts. However, with digitalization dramatically changing the environment for producing and using copyrighted works, and the amount of coordination and consensus-building that has exploded, the limits of relying on legislation and the judiciary are clear.

In discussions on legal revisions, there are more and more occasions where the formulation of guidelines with the participation of relevant parties is required.

This time, he expressed his recognition that he would "promote consensus building among parties with the involvement of administrative agencies as necessary" and "create innovation in the combination and interrelationships of soft law and positive law."

Okay.

So, what we discussed this time was about "promoting centralized and smooth rights processing."

We discussed the following four schemes for facilitating the use of content:

1) Restricted Rights with Compensation

2) Mixed type (centralized management and limited rights with compensation)

3) Extended Concentration License

4) Fundamental review of the arbitration system

1) is a conventional method, 2) is a system that we are trying to create with broadcasting network distribution, 3) is a system that has been introduced in Europe but has not been introduced in Japan, and 4) is a modification of the processing method.

In particular, 3) handling of extended centralized licensing became a point of contention.

Coordination among ministries and agencies was more difficult than among committee members, and it was tangled up to the end.

While coordinating with the intellectual property secretariat, which is promoting bold discussions, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, which is responsible for the system, the Regulatory Reform Council and the Liberal Democratic Party also joined in to find a common ground.

In the end, the time was up, and the task force members made an "interim summary."

I will leave out the legal issues as they are too technical.

In my own way, paraphrasing this very roughly, I think the difference in this new scheme is not in terms of interests or benefits, but the difference in attitudes toward the system itself, before reaching the argument of legal correctness.

Rights protection on the right, promotion of distribution on the left, that kind of stance.

Is it the line of responsibility of maintenance of the existing system vs. the Garapon system?

In the meantime, the Intellectual Property Headquarters came in and asked for opinions.

And that's why I didn't give an answer as to what to do.

In this respect, the form is different from the piracy debate.

It was a confrontation between the two protections of copyright and confidentiality of communications, and it was a reconciliation of interests rolling before our eyes that divided the industry and the ministries in charge.

This time, it is a philosophical effort to anticipate future issues and prepare a system.

The full-fledged discussion with stakeholders will start from now on.

However, it is epoch-making that a fundamental review of the arbitration system was shown through discussions this time.

The arbitration system for cases where the right holder is unknown has been reviewed, but in order to promote a wider range of use, the involvement of the government will be eliminated and outsourced to the private sector. It will also digitize applications and relax requirements. That is what will happen. This will be a specific institutional project in the future.

A broad outlook for the future and an immediate system/environmental improvement to resolve current issues.

As socio-economic DX accelerates, how to deal with copyright often becomes a two-way street.

Thank you for your continued support.

In addition, I felt that the resolution of the content problem by partial adjustment of the copyright system has reached its limit. A comprehensive media policy approach that includes communications and broadcasting systems and IT policies is necessary.

To do this, we need a cross-ministerial group of about six ministries.

I think it is a good theme to think about at the time of reviewing Kasumigaseki, including the establishment of the Digital Agency.

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Intellectual Property Headquarters Copyright Task Force: Part 1

 ■ Intellectual Property Headquarters Copyright Task Force: Part 1

A task force to examine the way copyright systems and related policies should be in the digital age.

A meeting of the Intellectual Property Headquarters, chaired by the chairman, has put together an "interim" report.

The final meeting did not wrap up, and there were two extra meetings, and then finally.

It reminds me of the bootleg task force that ruptured two years ago.

Maybe it’s the leader’s fault again. While I think about that…

https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/titeki2/tyousakai/kousou/digital_kentou_tf/pdf/tyukan_torimatome.pdf

This task force was held in parallel with the Agency for Cultural Affairs council discussing the copyright system for simultaneous distribution of broadcast programs.

While the Agency for Cultural Affairs handles the current legal issues, the Cabinet Office/Intellectual Property Headquarters will set the direction for the next important issue.

It's a division of roles.

So this time, the Intellectual Property Headquarters took a big step.

The report is divided into situation awareness in the first half and the policy in the second half.

The first half, "Changes in the environment surrounding the content industry," is based on 1) distribution, 2) consumption, 3) changes in the creative environment, as well as 4) the rise of global platforms, 5) the new significance of existence in the digital economy and society, and 6) showing future prospects.

I paraphrased it and explained it like this at the meeting.

MIT Professor Negroponte wrote in "Being Digital" 25 years ago that the production and distribution of content will completely change with digitalization, and the prospect that both rights holders and users will benefit is something that they saw since the start.

However, the items noted in 2), 3), and 4) were not clearly visible at the time, but they happened afterwards.

2) Content becomes not only final consumer goods but also intermediate goods that activate communication and communities.

3) Production becomes easier, and content itself and creators increase explosively.

4) The global platform will become stronger. Everyone, including professional creators and content companies as traditional players, and amateurs. The axis shifted to the platform that bound them together.

These things happened in Society 4.0. It is a problem awareness issue that we have not yet been able to respond to this.

Furthermore, 5) is the point this time.

In Society 5.0, content will become a data business.

Content will become a resource for a data-driven society. Smoothing the production, distribution, and consumption of content and removing external diseconomies are not the microeconomic theme of the growth of the content industry, but are related to the growth of the industry as a whole.

In other words, it means that content policy will be positioned in economic policy.

Until now, contents have been separated from the value chain of the economy as a whole, and have been discussed in terms of individual industry theory. There was a strong aspect that it was handled in the context of a half-baked cultural economic policy.

However, it will be incorporated into the economic system as a major player in a data-driven society.

Therefore, I am saying that the policy position of why we should talk about content now will change.

That is how I interpret things.

That's my interpretation. Specifically, the report was read as such.

(Continued in Part 2)

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