Mazda is dedicated to ensuring information security. We are determined to protect and to carry out appropriate management of the personal information customers entrust to us and other important information in our care. In 2005, when the personal Information protection law came into force in Japan, Mazda overhauled its information-security promotion framework, to ensure the fullest protection not only of confidential information but of all information under the management of the Mazda Group.
Mazda strives to maintain information security throughout the Group, with the CSR promotion Department given general responsibility for the handling of information at Mazda. The general manager of each division is designated as the person responsible for the handling of information in their division, and works with the CSR promotion Department to ensure proper controls. In addition, the IT Solution Division works to ensure information security throughout the Group by specifying IT security rules, providing guidelines regarding information security and supporting improvements to management systems, both within Mazda and at affiliated companies. To raise employee awareness about information security,
Mazda trains employees on the management of confidential information as soon as they join Mazda. At the time they join Mazda and once every year thereafter, employees are required to enroll in e-learning classes about privacy and IT security. To supplement this training, Mazda's Intranet hosts a dedicated site with useful tips and study materials on information management. Mazda provides affiliated companies with learning tools and other study support, and is considering introducing e-learning to them in the near future.
In addition to strict compliance with applicable laws related to the protection of personal information, Mazda rigorously protects personal information in accordance with its own personal Data protection policy. Under the aegis of the CSR promotion
Department, which has Company-wide authority over the handling of personal information, Mazda divides the task of appropriate privacy management among four distinct bodies, charged respectively with the management of customer information, employee information, patient information (at the Mazda Hospital) and other/general information. Customers who wish to inquire about the Company's handling of personal information and persons requesting disclosure regarding privacy issues are asked to contact the Mazda Call Center.
The Company endeavors to adequately protect the personal information of its customers, business partners, employees and other parties in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Law and the basic guidelines described below.
- Mazda shall establish Regulations for the Protection of personal information, to be adhered to by all parties that handle personal information.
- Mazda shall put in place a presiding supervisor for the management of personal information, and provide corresponding educational activities for our employees (directors, employees, part-time workers, temporary agency workers, etc.) and other related persons.
- Mazda shall acquire personal information through appropriate means. When collecting personal information, Mazda shall either inform that person of the purposes of use and our contact address, or announce such information by a well-recognized method or methods (such as through a website).
- At Mazda, personal information shall be utilized only by those who have been authorized to manage such Data, to the extent disclosed to the parties concerned or publicly announced, and the personal information shall be used only to that extent.
- Mazda shall take all necessary measures required by law, including obtaining consent from the relevant party for said provision of such personal information to a third party.
- If Mazda needs to assign a third party in any business relating to personal information, we shall select an appropriate assignee for said information, and take all necessary measures required by law, such as necessary and adequate supervision.
- If we receive any claim for disclosure, correction, suspension, or elimination of all or any part of the personal information retained by us, we shall react appropriately in accordance with laws after we confirm that said claim was issued by the relevant party.
- At Mazda, we shall ensure reasonable security measures, and continuously improve such measures to prevent illegal access, loss, destruction, falsification, and/or leakage of personal information.
Mazda has compiled guidelines committing it to "maintaining confidentiality and opposing infringement of its own, and other parties', intellectual property rights," the text of which is included in the Mazda Corporate Ethics Code of Conduct.
Based on this pledge, we have established the Intellectual property Committee chaired by an executive officer responsible for intellectual property issues, comprising division general managers from related divisions. This committee discusses and makes decisions on important intellectual property issues. In addition, Mazda incorporates a dedicated Intellectual property Department, which manages the acquisition and handling of patents on new technologies, copyrights on basic markings and model names, prevention of infringement of others' patents, copyrights and trademarks, and educates and raises awareness about intellectual property rights in general. This department also establishes global regulations to guide consolidated subsidiaries and affiliated companies on the handling and use of intellectual property.
