Osaka prefectural police said on Tuesday that about 4,800 email addresses registered by users of the online application system for staff recruitment exams may have leaked. As of that evening there was no sign the addresses had been misused, and police are investigating whether a leak occurred at all.
The addresses were registered between February and October, police said. The suspected leak stems from unauthorized access to Arara, an email distribution company based in Tokyo, whose service was used by another contractor that supplies the application system to the force.
Police have moved applications for recruitment screenings open from late October to November 24 to mail, starting on Tuesday.
Second breach disclosed in Osaka
The disclosure came the same day Kanagawa prefectural police searched Kawasaki City Hall, according to Kyodo News, one of several public-sector breaches drawing attention. Public bodies increasingly run recruitment and administrative services through outside vendors, which can leave applicant data exposed when a subcontractor is compromised.