In an interview with The Asahi Shimbun, Joseph Cannataci, the special rapporteur who is in charge of the right to privacy in the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said he plans to ask the new government that emerges after the Oct. 22 Lower House election to pass legislation that would include safeguards for privacy.

Excerpts of the interview follow:

Question: What is the purpose of your current visit to Japan?

Cannataci: I asked an organization of lawyers to organize an academic seminar at a university where I wanted to discuss privacy in Japan.

The Japanese government in its public letter in August said that they wish to have a dialogue, and therefore now I am expecting the invitation. I am looking for an official invitation from the Japanese government and would be very happy to carry out a constructive dialogue.

The complete and original article can be accessed here.