Personal Information Protection Principles

Dentsu Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Company”) believes that balancing the utilization and protection of personal information is one of the most important issues for the Company. The evolution of communication technology is drastically changing the Company’s fields of business and there are increasingly more areas of business processing such personal information.

These Principles set out principal matters which the Company complies with upon processing personal information. The Company declares its commitment to managing and protecting personal information in compliance with Japan’s “Act on the Protection of Personal Information” (“Japan’s Personal Information Protection Act”) as well as applicable personal information protection laws of each country, pursuant to the Dentsu Group Basic Policy for Information Security and these Principles.

Please refer to the following policy for processing of personal information if the personal information protection laws of the following areas apply. If there is any inconsistency between these Principles and the policy, the provisions of the policy will prevail to the extent of such inconsistency.

1. Definitions

Unless otherwise defined in these Principles, the following terms have the following meanings.

Personal Information Information defined as personal information in light of the applicable personal information protection laws of each country.

The Personal Information under Japan’s Personal Information Protection Act means information relating to a living individual that (1) contains a name, date of birth or other descriptions contained in such information whereby a specific individual can be identified (including those which can be readily collated with other information and thereby identify a specific individual), and (2) contains an individual identification code.
Informative Data (Note) Information regarding an individual such as log information on the use of internet that cannot identify a specific individual by itself, including, but not limited to, identifier information such as terminal identification ID, location information, and browsing history.
Processing Any and all operations conducted with respect to the Personal Information, whether automatically conducted or not, including acquisition, storage, recording, editing, disclosure, and deletion.
Data Controller A natural or legal person, or other body which, solely or jointly with others, decides the purpose and form of Processing the Personal Information.
Data Processor A natural or legal person, or other body which, Processes the Personal Information on behalf of the Data Controller.
Note: Informative Data may or may not constitute Personal Information depending on the applicable personal information protection laws of each country. As long as the Informative Data constitutes the Personal Information under the applicable personal information protection laws of each country, it is interpreted that the Informative Data constitutes the Personal Information under these Principles. Under Japan’s Personal Information Protection Act, the Informative Data does not constitute Personal Information in principle unless it can be readily collated with other information and thereby identify a specific person.

In addition, the Company uses cookies to ascertain website usage with an aim to improve the convenience and quality of the Company’s website. The Company does not use cookies for the purpose of, or in the form of, identifying a specific individual. Please find more information on the cookies the Company uses on the Company’s Cookie Policy.

2. Purpose of Processing, Type, and Method of Collection, of Personal Information

The Company shall obtain Personal Information in a fair and appropriate manner, and Process the Personal Information within the scope of the purpose of Processing after such purpose is made known or publicized and upon consent of the data subject(s).

The purpose of Processing, type, and method of collection, of the Personal Information that the Company Processes as Data Controller are as set out in the following table.

Purpose of Processing Type of Personal Information Method of Collection
Invitation and/or communication of the services including events, seminars and surveys
  • Name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Address
  • Affiliation information
  • Title
  • Interests in the Company’s services
  • Information on participation in events
  • Other information necessary for the purpose of use described in the left column
  • Method of collecting from the data subject such as application for participation in events or subscription to newsletters, responses to surveys, inquiries to the Company, and requests
  • Method of collecting from partner companies, etc.
Delivery of newsletters, publications, newspapers, seasonal greetings, etc.
Communication and analysis of results of various verification tests (including those conducted by the consortium)
Provision and proposal of information regarding the Company’s products and services, and development and improvement of products and services
  • Name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Address
  • Affiliation information
  • Title
  • Thought on marketing communication
  • Information on participation in events
  • Other information necessary for the purpose of use described in the left column
  • Method of collecting from the data subject such as application for participation in events or subscription to newsletters, responses to surveys, inquiries to the Company, and requests
  • Method of collecting through tags, etc. installed on the Company’s website
  • Method of collecting from partner companies, etc.
Improvement of the Company’s website
  • Informative Data
  • Other information necessary for the purpose of use described in the left column
  • Method of collecting through tags, etc. installed on the Company’s website
Notification of arrival of the visitor at the Company’s Offices to the person visited and gatekeeping at office entrances
  • Name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Address
  • Affiliation information
  • Title
  • Other information necessary for the purpose of use described in the left column
  • Method of collecting from the data subject or affiliation, etc.
Negotiation, production and management re: talent/celebrity appearance in a broadcast program, TV commercial, event, seminar, etc.
  • Name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Address
  • Affiliation information
  • Title
  • Other information necessary for the purpose of use described in the left column
  • Method of collecting from the data subject, or affiliated companies, etc. or event-related companies, etc. including the Company’s group companies
Operation and communication of job posting, recruitment and screening. Survey for the purpose of future recruitment activities. Personnel database after enrollment.
  • Name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Address
  • Affiliation information
  • Title
  • Other information necessary for the purpose of use described in the left column
  • Method of collecting from the data subject(s) or staff agencies, etc.
Handling of inquiries, requests, complaints, etc.
  • Name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Address
  • Affiliation information
  • Title, etc.
  • Interests in the Company’s services
  • Information on participation in events
  • Information provided by the data subject(s) upon inquiries, etc.
  • Other information necessary for the purpose of use described in the left column
  • Method of collecting from the data subject
Other use that is deemed to be reasonably necessary for the Company’s business Other information necessary for the purpose of use described in the left column including the above information Method of collecting from the data subject, or method of collecting indirectly from a third party including the above method of collection

In addition to the information in the above table, the Company, as Data Controller, may Process any name, email address, telephone number, address, affiliation information, title, thought on marketing communication, information on participation in events, Informative Data and other information relating to the data subject for the purpose of execution of work commissioned by advertisers and other clients which includes sweepstakes, consumer promotions, events, membership offerings, delivery of brochures upon request and handling of inquiries, general surveys, consumer awareness and behavior research, personalized data management (information based on personal attributes and behaviors), etc.

Please find more information on handling of the Informative Data by the Company for the purpose of providing services to advertisers and other clients if the Personal Information does not constitute those under the applicable personal information protection laws of each country on the Company’s Informative Data Handling Policy.

3. Retention Period of Personal Information

The Company will decide the appropriate retention period on a case-by-case basis taking into account the purpose of use, volume, nature, confidentiality, and legal or business necessity of holding the Personal Information that the Company acquired. If the retention period expires, the Company will delete the Personal Information in a secure manner, or anonymize the Personal Information pursuant to the applicable personal information protection laws of each country. If it is not possible, the Company will securely store the Personal Information, and then preclude new use of the Personal Information until it becomes possible to delete the Personal Information.

4. Security Control Measures for Personal Information

The Company handles the Personal Information in accordance with these Principles, and takes following security control measures.

  • Establishment of regulations
    Formulating the Dentsu Group Information Security Policy, and otherwise establishing various internal rules for the purpose of securing information and protecting Personal Information
  • Systematic security control measures
    Acquiring the ISO/IEC27001 and JISQ27001 information security management standards, appointing Company-wide Personal Information Management Officers, establishing the Personal Information Protection Program Office, appointing Data Protection Officers, appointing persons responsible for Personal Information management and Personal Information Data Controllers in each division, establishing a reporting system in the event of a leakage or other problems, and otherwise implementing a system for managing operations pertaining to handling of Personal Information in an integrated manner
  • Personnel security control measures
    Executing internal information security training, including Personal Information security management training at the time of the review of renewal of ISO/IEC27001 and JISQ27001
  • Physical security control measures
    Controlling entry and exit by ID, storing Personal Information in a locked storage space or server to which can only be accessed by the Data Controller, and otherwise transmitting Personal Information by using encryption and dedicated servers, etc.
  • Technical security control measures
    Limiting access from outside by firewalls, regularly monitoring unauthorized access, installing anti-virus software, continually updating pattern files, managing application installation, limiting multiple directory access, and otherwise executing URL filtering
  • Ascertainment of external environment
    Checking systems for the protection of Personal Information in foreign countries where the Company outsources the storage or handling of Personal Information, and otherwise establishing internal systems and preparing written contracts, etc. necessary for such systems

5. Outsourcing Management for Processing of Personal Information

The Company will outsource part of its operations pertaining to Processing of Personal Information to its supplier companies. The Company regards management of supplier companies as one of the top priorities, selecting only those supplier companies who meet or exceed the Company’s standard of Personal Information protection and specifying their responsibilities in written contracts before awarding them the operations pertaining to Processing of Personal Information. The Company also demands of its supplier companies appropriate Processing of Personal Information and will continue to supervise and evaluate them to safeguard operations.

6. Disclosure to, or Sharing with, Recipients of Personal Information

The Company may share with, or disclose to (including outsourcing of sharing or disclosure), a third party Personal Information in compliance with the applicable personal information protection laws of each country. The principal entities receiving the Personal Information are as follows:

  • Dentsu Group Inc. and its group companies
  • Companies who have a business relationship with the Company
  • Advertisers and other Company clients
  • Internet and IT-related service providers, system developers, service providers such as website builders and maintenance service providers, and platform business operators
  • Attorneys, certified public accountants, tax accountants, consultants and other external professional advisers
  • Other service providers and supplier companies that are reasonably related to achieve the purpose of Processing the Personal Information as set out in these Principles
  • Other third parties if the Company obtains prior consent from the data subject or it is otherwise permitted to share with, or disclose to, such third parties the Personal Information under the applicable personal information protection laws of each country

If the Company shares with, or discloses to, a third party the Personal Information on the grounds of joint use under Japan’s Personal Information Protection Act, the Company shall inform and/or publicize the purpose of its joint use, the kind of Personal Information to be jointly used, with whom the Personal Information would be jointly used, and the person in charge prior to the event. The Company shall also make sure that all participating companies take the strictest of security measures for handling the Personal Information.

7. Transfer of Personal Information to Foreign Countries

For the purpose of Processing the Personal Information, the Company will transfer to, or store in, countries other than the countries or areas where the data subject resides the Personal Information. In such case, the Company will comply with the applicable personal information protection laws of each country.

8. Rights of Data Subjects

A data subject will be permitted to have various rights if the Personal Information held by the Company as Data Controller satisfies certain requirements under the applicable personal information protection laws of each country.

Rights under Japan’s Personal Information Protection Act
A data subject will be permitted to have the right to demand disclosure, correction, addition or deletion, utilization cease or deletion, or suspension of a third-party provision, of the Personal Information that the Company holds, or disclosure of records of the Personal Information provided to a third party. For requests and inquiries regarding the exercise of those rights to demand or notice of the purpose of use, please contact the contact address to which the data subject provides the Personal Information or the following address. The Company will inform of the method of the application procedure, fees for notice of disclosure or purpose of use, and other matters. In responding to the request, the Company will confirm that the person who makes the request is the data subject or the representative thereof.

Rights under the applicable personal information protection laws of each country other than Japan’s Personal Information Protection Act
Please find more information on the rights to be granted to the data subject and the method of exercise of such rights in the Privacy Policy for countries listed at the beginning of these Principles.

9. Continuous Improvements

The Company shall continuously evaluate and improve its Personal Information management system, including these Principles, to reflect any changes in the demands of its clients and other business partners as well as those of the social environment and thus maintain its standard of excellence in handling and protecting Personal Information. In addition, the Company may change these Principles as needed. The Company will inform of any change in these Principles at an appropriate time on this website or a website managed by the Company, or by such method as the Company determines to be appropriate.

10. Contact Information

For questions and inquiries regarding these Principles, please contact us using the inquiry form.

Please find the address and name of the representative of the Company on the ‘About Us’ page of our website.



Last updated: May 12, 2023