Total government war on floppy disks

1,440 KB! © iStock.

Taro Kono, Japan’s newly appointed Minister of Digital Affairs, declared war on floppy disks and other obsolete media such as CDs and MiniDiscs still required to apply for some 1900 administrative functions. Shortly after he took office in early August, Kono announced that he wanted to modernize technology within the Japanese government, citing the use of fax machines instead of e-mails as an example. He also decried archaic practices such as the application of the hanko, an engraved hand-stamp that’s still mandatory on official documents such as marriage licenses and real estate or automobile purchases. Japan is not the only nation to wrestle with putting an end to outdated technology. The US Department of Defense waited until 2019 to phase out the use of floppy disks. Sony, who invented the 3½-inch floppy disk in 1983, hasn’t even manufactured any since 2011.

⇨ Ars Technica, Benj Edwards, “Japan declares war on floppy disks for government use.”

2022-08-31