Japan's teen talent took a dark turn as a 16-year-old was arrested for hacking into Rakuten Mobile (RakuMoba), one of Japan's leading mobile network providers. This cyber-crime involved unauthorized access to the company's servers, resulting in a significant data breach. The event has prompted nationwide discussions about digital security measures and the ethical use of tech skills.
Japan views illegal hacking as a serious offense, with recent years seeing an increase in the enforcement of such laws as digital crime rates grow. The age of the hacker in this case plays a significant role in the social response, being a society that traditionally values respect, lawfulness, and the harnessing of technical skills for positive contribution.
In the US or EU, illegal hacking also holds severe penalties, with the degree of punishment typically relating to the severity of the crime. Similar to Japan, it's made grimmer owing to the involvement of a minor, raising contentious debates about early-age ethical education related to the digital world.