Service Provider Name
- NTT QONOQ, INC.
As a service that participates in data utilisation initiatives, this service has conducted a VPIA in order to increase the transparency of data handling. In addition to the excerpts from the VPIA report, in which the service provider has assessed the benefits and privacy considerations when using their service, the results of a third-party assessment of the VPIA report are also available on this website. Please review this information for your reference when using this service. Click here to learn more about the VPIA.
VPIA Report
This service provider has conducted its own assessment of the value of the service, its data handling practices and its measures against the anticipated risks. The following are the excerpts from the report.
1. Service Values
（１）Service Outline
This service is intended to reproduce the physical Expo site (Yumeshima Island) as a virtual site in an online space using 3D CG. Users can explore the virtual site through their avatars. They can also enter the virtual pavilions set up by exhibitors and experience exhibitions and events that take advantage of the unique characteristics of virtual world.
At the physical Yumeshima Island site, users can enjoy AR* content by smartphone in which characters and 3D objects appear that do not exist in reality.
*AR (‘Augmented Reality’) refers to technology and mechanisms that augment reality by, for example, overlaying information and content from virtual spaces onto the real world.
Functions Provided
①Avatar setting function
The user can register their avatar’s appearance and nickname, as well as their date of birth and country/region. (They are all required fields. Their nickname and country/region can be viewed by other users. For the country/region, ‘Other’ is included in the options.)
②Avatar operation function
If the user touches the warp point set in front of each facility such as virtual pavilions/event halls, explanatory information about the content available at the facility will be displayed. If the user chooses to enter, they can experience the virtual content created by the exhibitor.
Voice chat (between nearby users) / text chat (chat window / word balloons / individual chat, and automatic translation into some languages)
The user can also make their avatar perform specific gestures by operating buttons on the controller.
③Menu function
■To help the user manage their experience records, the App has functions to register their favourite events and refer to the pavilions that they have visited, as well as accompanied mode function that allows them to participate only with friends who know certain keywords.
④AR mode function
The user can experience AR content featuring a fusion of the real settings and digital information by reading the relevant AR markers at the physical Expo site with a smartphone camera. In some areas, events in which AR and VR work together will also be organised.
（２）Service Benefits
Benefits that can be provided to individual users
| Inclusive (Provide opportunities to experience the Expo anytime, anywhere) | •Even if the user does not go to the Expo site, they can experience the Expo at their own convenience through their experience of Virtual Expo. •Participation through avatars enables those who cannot come to the physical site for some reason, including the disabled, the elderly, and people from abroad, to participate freely, which contributes to the realisation of an inclusive World Expo. The service grants everyone an opportunity to participate and express themselves without hesitation. |
|---|---|
| Interactive (Provide a deeper user experience through exhibitions and interactions with others) | •The use of technologies such as virtual reality (VR) helps to realise an immersive experience and gimmicks (e.g. tricks, special effects) that cannot be achieved at the physical Expo site alone, enabling the user to experience exhibitions and events that take advantage of the unique characteristics of virtual world. •Also, at the physical site (Yumeshima Island), the user can use a smartphone to experience AR content, in which characters and 3D objects appear that do not actually exist. •Furthermore, the user can experience a space that they can join in a limited group, such as a group of friends or community members, if necessary. This will make them feel even more immersed. |
| Co-creative (Enable a daily experience of enjoying independent content developed by all pavilion exhibitors and participating in many events) | •Since Expo participants from around the world will develop original content, the user can enjoy many themes and daily-changing content. •It is expected that background information that cannot be fully displayed at the real venue will be provided. This will lead to a broader and deeper understanding of the content. |
Benefits that can be provided to society
| Realising an inclusive Expo | Many users will be able to take advantage of their experience of Virtual Expo as preparation for planning a tour of facilities at the physical Expo site. |
|---|---|
| Realising an interactive Expo | Not only will they look up information on websites, but users will also experience content (exhibits with gimmicks [e.g. tricks, special effects] and chat communication between users) through their avatars. This will contribute to promoting a deeper understanding of the exhibition themes. |
| Realising a co-creative Expo | Not only do they allow the reproduction of the physical Expo site, but also exhibitions at the virtual site enable the exhibitors to disseminate their themes and explain their exhibitions in unique ways that take advantage of the characteristics of virtual technology. This is expected to have an impact on the understanding and education of many participants around the world. |
| Creating connections between users | By allowing users to communicate with one another while viewing the same theme or exhibition, the service provides an opportunity to create new communities or revitalise existing ones. |
| Creating connections between exhibitors and users | Since the service enables exhibitors to check user actions (messages etc.) in response to specific themes, it is expected that this will lead to corrective action by exhibitors, such as reviewing their actions based on user feedback, in addition to checking the expectations placed on their exhibitions (e.g. contribution to the SDGs). |
２.Data Handling
（Data to be acquired and the purpose of use）
Data to be acquired
⚫︎ ： Data to be acquired via ExpoID data linkage ■ ： Data to be acquired directly from the user
⚫︎ ： Data to be acquired via ExpoID data linkage
■ ： Data to be acquired directly from the user
- E.g. Nickname, country of residence, date of birth, self-introduction, history of login to the App, chat input data, GPS information when experiencing AR content, agreement to terms and conditions and privacy policy ■
- ExpoID registered information (ExpoID, Universally Unique Identifier (internal ID for unique user identification)) ⚫︎
Purpose of use
- To obtain/display information necessary for the user experience on the App and promote interaction with other users
- To authenticate and verify the identity of users
- To provide chat and translation functions to users
３.Major Risk Measures
| _ | Measures | Datails |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notification of data to be collected and the purpose of its use | •The privacy policy clearly states the personal information to be collected and the purpose of its use. •The App is designed to ensure that a checkbox becomes active only after the user has read the given text to the end by scrolling and that they cannot proceed to the next step without ticking the checkbox and tapping the agreement button. •For the translation function, an agreement is obtained individually (and can be changed later). If an agreement is not obtained, the function will not be provided either at the sending time or the receiving time. |
| 2 | Response to users who engage in inappropriate use | •To prevent slander and other attacks via text chat, the App is equipped with a function for filtering out prohibited words to ensure a certain degree of control in input. The prohibited word list can be updated at any time during the event as needed without having to update the App. •Regarding users who engage in inappropriate use, the App is equipped with a function for other users to report to Virtual Expo operator anonymously. (If a certain level of inappropriate behaviour is reported, measures such as preventing the user in question from logging in will be taken.) •The app is also equipped with a function to block chats from the avatar in question. |
| ３ | Warning about incorrect input of personal information | •A warning will be displayed on the avatar setting screen to warn the user not to enter their personal information. •A warning will be also issued to prevent users from posting any personally identifiable information when using the chat service. |
| ４ | Response to users who are concerned about providing their location information | •To obtain location information from users, the App is designed to display a separate screen to obtain their agreement and obtain (but not retain) their location information under the agreement. •The App is designed to enable users not to provide their location information by adjusting their smartphone settings. |
Assessment Results by a Third-Party
Third-party VPIA Community members assess the VPIA report from their own perspective on whether the report explains the details in a way that users can understand. Click here to learn more about the VPIA Community.
（with the titles omitted and the names listed in Japanese syllabary order）
OKUHARA Sanae
Affiliation：
- Director, Research Institute for Consumer Affairs, Nippon Association of Consumer Specialists
- Director, Accredited Personal Information Protection Organization
Administrative Office, Foundation for Promotion of Digital Economy and Community
Category of Viewpoints：Consumer
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
General Comment
The service provided is intended for a wide variety of users who are interested in the Expo, and I found it to be both versatile and useful. While the Expo is a theme park-like event, the service allows users to simulate the experience of the actual Expo site without needing to visit in person. This service is commendable in this regard, as it helps mitigate users’ constraints and enables them to interact with each other, whether they are in Japan or abroad.
Read More
① Service Values
Service outline
Is the overview of the service understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
Service benefits
Are the benefits provided by the service understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
② Data Handling
Status of data handling
Is the overall picture of the service’s data handling understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
Data to be acquired and purpose of use
Are acquired data items and purpose of use understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
③ Risk Measures
Anticipated risks
Are the risks anticipated from the user’s perspective understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
Risk measures
Are the countermeasures against anticipated risk understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
KATIRAI Amelia
Affiliation：
- Specially-Appointed Assistant Professor, Osaka University Research Centre on Ethical, Legal and Social Issues
Category of Viewpoints：Society and Ethics
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
General Comment
This virtual Expo aims to make the Expo more inclusive and interactive. The service is mindful of keeping the amount of data collected to a minimum and is designed to prevent the gathering of unnecessary personal information. It is recommended that users review the details of the function provided and the privacy policy before deciding to use the service.
Read More
① Service Values
Service outline
Is the overview of the service understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
Service benefits
Are the benefits provided by the service understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
② Data Handling
Status of data handling
Is the overall picture of the service’s data handling understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
Data to be acquired and purpose of use
Are acquired data items and purpose of use understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
③ Risk Measures
Anticipated risks
Are the risks anticipated from the user’s perspective understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
Risk measures
Are the countermeasures against anticipated risk understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
SAKUMA Hiroshi
Affiliation：
- Impact Officer at Global Shapers Community Osaka Hub, the World Economic Forum
- Specially Appointed Researcher at the Social Solution Initiative, Osaka University
Category of Viewpoints：Youth
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
General Comment
The details of the service called Virtual Expo, which allows users to participate in the Expo from anywhere in the world, were explained in an easy-to-understand manner in the report, including experiences that take advantage of the unique characteristics of the virtual world, such as virtual reality (VR), as well as the service’s benefits to society. The details, including the steps to get started, the functions provided, and the information to be collected and used, such as GPS data and the Expo ID, were also thoroughly explained. Additionally, the purpose of the data collected, along with the associated risks and countermeasures, were also explained in detail. With respect to the chat service, it is recommended that users review the usage methods and precautions before deciding to use it.
Read More
① Service Values
Service outline
Is the overview of the service understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
Service benefits
Are the benefits provided by the service understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
② Data Handling
Status of data handling
Is the overall picture of the service’s data handling understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
Data to be acquired and purpose of use
Are acquired data items and purpose of use understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
③ Risk Measures
Anticipated risks
Are the risks anticipated from the user’s perspective understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
Risk measures
Are the countermeasures against anticipated risk understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
TSUNODA Mio
Affiliation：
- Global Shapers Community Osaka Hub, the World Economic Forum
- CEO, Darajapan Inc.
Category of Viewpoints：International
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
General Comment
I was able to understand how the service’s idea-reproducing the real Expo site (Yumeshima Island) as a virtual venue in an online space using 3D CG-will be realised. Given that the service itself has a strong entertainment aspect for users, it can be expected that the content related to personal information mentioned when using the service will be complex. However, the risks outlined and the measures taken to address them were both appropriate and easy to understand.
Read More
① Service Values
Service outline
Is the overview of the service understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
Service benefits
Are the benefits provided by the service understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
② Data Handling
Status of data handling
Is the overall picture of the service’s data handling understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
Data to be acquired and purpose of use
Are acquired data items and purpose of use understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
③ Risk Measures
Anticipated risks
Are the risks anticipated from the user’s perspective understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
Risk measures
Are the countermeasures against anticipated risk understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
NOBUTOMO Hiroyuki
Affiliation：
- Project Researcher, Tokyo University Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies
Category of Viewpoints：Data Linkage
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
General Comment
An ambitious proposal was presented in the report to create an inclusive, interactive, co-creative Expo through the implementation of the virtual Expo using digital technology. In light of the expected benefits of the service, the risks associated with the main functions are considered to be well within acceptable limits. However, to achieve even greater safety in its use, it is expected that due consideration will be given to the operation of the chat service.
Read More
① Service Values
Service outline
Is the overview of the service understandable?
Clearly understandable
Clearly understand-
able
Service benefits
Are the benefits provided by the service understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
② Data Handling
Status of data handling
Is the overall picture of the service’s data handling understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
Data to be acquired and purpose of use
Are acquired data items and purpose of use understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
③ Risk Measures
Anticipated risks
Are the risks anticipated from the user’s perspective understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
Risk measures
Are the countermeasures against anticipated risk understandable?
Generally understandable
Generally understand-
able
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