Open Loop
Open Loop
In 2026, Meta’s Open Loop program will launch its first initiative in Japan.
This program presents a strategic opportunity for Japanese industry leaders to help shape the practical implementation of the country's AI regulatory framework and support the ambition of the Japanese Government to foster the most “AI-friendly country in the world” .
Japan is currently at a critical juncture for digital innovation, where the rapid adoption of generative AI and wearable technologies is creating new opportunities alongside new governance questions. As a result, businesses are facing an evolving legal landscape as they navigate the intersection of the newly enacted AI Promotion Act,the APPI and ongoing development of the AI for Business Guidelines.
Open Loop Japan is specifically designed to bridge this gap between policy and practice, ensuring regulations and guidelines are clear, effective, and innovation-friendly. By inviting a group of industry leading Japanese companies to participate, the program gathers the insights needed to build a regulatory environment where responsible AI development and data protection coexist seamlessly.
Program Details
The Open Loop Japan program will convene Japanese companies in order to gather information and expert insights on data protection and AI policy. Through these discussions, the project will cover practical issues such as accommodating the technical needs of AI model development, enabling trusted cross-border data transfers seen as necessary to AI development, and supporting the responsible deployment of next-generation wearable consumer products.
The program utilizes Meta’s Open Loop policy prototyping methodology, which includes both qualitative and quantitative research methods. All findings and recommendations will be compiled and released in a final report in early 2026, which will be accessible for download on this website.
Open Loop Japan will prioritise questions around biometric and body-based data, including governance and legal bases for processing, safeguards for AI development and wearable/sensor-enabled products.
The Open Loop Japan program aims to:
Analyze Regulatory Interactions: Identify where the AI Promotion Act and the APPI support each other and where they may create friction, particularly regarding data access for AI training, biometric and body-based data, physical AI, and the use of wearable devices.
Shape Policy Implementation: Provide direct, evidence-based feedback to regulators and policymakers to help shape how the AI Promotion Act is interpreted and implemented.
Provide Strategic Insights: Equip participating companies with early insights into developments across Japan’s "soft law" guidelines, the AI Business Operator Guidelines, and AI legislation to explore future impacts on compliance costs and R&D.
Meta’s Open Loop has partnered with the Future of Privacy Forum and Accenture on the Open Loop Japan Program.
Open Loop is built on a strong spirit of collaboration. For this program, we will work together with the Japanese business community, as well as a group of experts made up of academia, civil society and industry representatives from APAC. The diversity of perspectives and expertise within this consortium enriches the program, ensuring that the policies crafted are not only effective but also reflective of the evolving landscape of technology.
Please stay tuned to learn more about our Open Loop Japan program consortium.
