特定秘密指定、米軍以外も　運用基準を初改定―政府

　政府は１６日の閣議で、特定秘密保護法の運用基準を２０１４年の施行以来初めて改定した。１５年成立の安全保障関連法で自衛隊が行える活動が拡大したことを踏まえ、米軍以外の他国軍隊と自衛隊の協力に関する情報も特定秘密に指定できるようにした。
　改定基準は行政機関で指定された情報が要件を満たしているか年１回以上点検することも明記。具体的な情報がない段階であらかじめ特定秘密に指定する際、指定の必要性や情報が得られる可能性を慎重に判断することも義務付けた。（2020/06/16-14:45）

The cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe adopted on Tuesday revised guidelines for the application of Japan's specially designated secrets law that newly enable the government to protect information on cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and troops of countries other than the United States.
   The first revision of the application guidelines for the law, which took effect in 2004, was made after the scope of SDF activities was expanded under new national security legislation enacted in 2015.
   Meanwhile, the revised guidelines oblige the government to review at least once a year whether designated information meets required criteria and carefully determine if protection is necessary as far as intangible information is concerned.
   The Abe cabinet also adopted a parliamentary report on special secret designations in 2019.
   According to the report, 12 government bodies made 569 designations as of the end of December, up from 551 designations by 11 bodies a year earlier, with 485,108 documents involved.