Japan’s Government Will Ban Fax Machines From Schools

Welcome to the 21st century: as part of its ongoing digitization efforts, Japan’s telling schools that fax machines are so yesterday.

By Himari Semans

Students’ names and phone numbers are leaking out of online databases and off physical documents. Recent cases of schools mishandling personal information are hopefully the last of their kind. To curb these issues, Japan’s government plans to ban all fax machines and oversee the digitization of all school duties.

No more faxes — do you copy?

The fax machine use for Sending documents in the office, concept equipment needed in office

According to a Monday report by the Yomiuri Shimbun, officials will meet on December 20th. There, they plan to disclose plans to ban fax machines from schools and digitize all school communications by 2026.

Fax machines are still how the Board of Education communicates with schools in some local municipalities.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Kishida will lead the government’s conference for administrative and financial digital reform.