Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) — Digital Services
Japan's Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT, Act No. 57 of 1976, substantially amended 2021-2023) regulates commercial transactions including online digital services, subscription services, and in-app purchases. The 2021 amendments specifically addressed dark patterns in digital commerce, requiring clear pricing disclosure, prohibition on misleading final confirmation screens, and cooling-off rights for digital subscriptions. Enforced by the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA). Particularly relevant for gaming microtransactions and digital subscriptions.
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Framework Domains (5)
Chapter I — General Provisions
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 1 | Open Finance Implementation |
| Art. 2 | Consent Definition |
| Art. 3 | Objectives of Open Finance |
| Art. 4 | Participating Institutions |
| Art. 5 | Legal Recognition of Data Messages |
| Art.1 | Purpose |
| Art.2 | Definitions |
| Art.3 | Cybersecurity Policy |
| Art.4 | Credit Information Business Licensing |
| Art.8 | Prohibited Acts |
| HUN-1 | Purpose and Scope |
| HUN-2 | Definitions |
| HUN-3 | Fundamental Rules |
| URY-1 | Fundamental Right (Article 1) |
| URY-2 | Scope and Definitions (Article 2–4) |
Chapter II, Section 3 — Mail Order Sales (Internet Transactions)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 11 | Consent Revocation |
| Art. 12 | Data Ownership |
| Art. 12-2 | Prohibition of excessive email advertising |
| Art. 13 | Data Security and Privacy |
| Art. 14 | Direct Data Flows |
| Art. 15 | Cybersecurity Requirements |
| Art. 15-4 | Cooling-off period for internet sales |
Chapter IV — Provision of Specified Continuous Services
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 41 | Exemptions from Certain GDPR Provisions |
| Art. 42 | Processing for Archiving Purposes |
| Art. 48 | Criminal Penalties |
| Art. 49 | Collective Dispute Resolution |
Chapter V-2 — Right to Demand Injunction
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 58-4 | Injunction by qualified consumer organisations |
| Art. 58-5 | Scope of injunction demands |
| Art. 58-6 | Court proceedings for injunctions |
Chapter VII — Penal Provisions
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Art. 70 | Criminal Penalties for False Consent |
| Art. 71 | Criminal Penalties for Unlawful Processing |
| Art. 72 | Criminal Sanctions |
| Art. 74 | Minor infringements |
Maps to 586 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) — Digital Services?
Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) — Digital Services is a compliance framework from Japan (CAA) with 5 domains and 33 controls. Japan's Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT, Act No. 57 of 1976, substantially amended 2021-2023) regulates commercial transactions including online digital services, subscription services, and in-app purchases. The 2021 amendments specifically addressed dark patterns in digital commerce, requiring clear pricing disclosure, prohibition on misleading final confirmation screens, and cooling-off rights for digital subscriptions. Enforced by the Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA). Particularly relevant for gaming microtransactions and digital subscriptions. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) — Digital Services have?
Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) — Digital Services has 33 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Chapter I — General Provisions (15 controls), Chapter II, Section 3 — Mail Order Sales (Internet Transactions) (7 controls), Chapter IV — Provision of Specified Continuous Services (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) — Digital Services map to?
Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) — Digital Services maps to 586 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0) (42% coverage), NIST AI 600-1 Generative AI Profile (42% coverage), Australia Consumer Data Right — Banking (CDR) (42% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) — Digital Services compliance?
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