Mercari Group AI Usage Policy

At Mercari Group, our mission is “circulate all forms of value to unleash the potential in all people.” To achieve this mission, Mercari Group is aiming to create a world that uses the power of technology to connect people all over the globe and allow anyone to unleash their potential.

AI plays an increasingly important role in driving social innovation, enhancing the value of the user experience for each and every user, and accelerating progress toward achieving the Mercari Group mission.

However, while AI holds great potential, it also comes with potential risks whose impact could extend to society and our stakeholders. Mercari Group takes these risks seriously and is committed to addressing them through responsibly developing, providing, and using AI.

The Mercari Group Basic Policy on AI Usage (“this Policy”) defines principles for maximizing the use of AI to achieve the Mercari Group mission while appropriately managing the associated risks. Mercari Group complies with this Policy throughout the entire process of developing, providing, and using AI, and striving to achieve both our mission and the trustworthy use of AI.

The policies governing Mercari Group’s AI usage are set forth below:

1.Take on the challenge of innovation

In addition to appropriately recognizing the risks associated with using AI, Mercari Group believes in the potential of technology and will continue to take on bold challenges without relying on existing frameworks. We create new value together with AI that benefits both individuals and society.

2.Take a human-centered approach

Based on the “Principles of Human-Centric AI Society,” Mercari Group uses AI to unleash the potential of all people and enable the pursuit of various forms of happiness and convenience for users from diverse backgrounds.

Reference: Cabinet Office “Social Principles of Human-Centric AI”

3.Ensure inclusion and fairness

In using AI systems, Mercari Group ensures inclusion and fairness in alignment with our mission to “unleash the potential in all people.”

• Throughout the development, provision, and use of AI systems, we ensure that AI systems do not cause unfair discrimination or significantly disadvantage specific individuals or groups. In particular, we strive to prevent biases, subjective thoughts, or prejudiced perspectives from being reflected in training data or system specifications during development, and we pursue continuous improvement through ongoing monitoring and evaluation

4.Focus on privacy and data protection

Throughout all processes—from training data collection and AI system design to post-release operations—we respect privacy and ensure the appropriate use and protection of all data we handle, including personal data.

• We define appropriate data usage scopes and ensure continuous data management across the development, provision, and use of AI systems.
• Beyond mere compliance with relevant laws, guidelines, and internal regulations, we also consider ethical and social impacts and ensure respect for privacy in our usage of AI.
• We continuously collect information regarding the privacy risks involved in AI systems and put countermeasures in place as necessary.

5.Ensure security

We strive to ensure the security of AI systems to enable our stakeholders, including our users, to use them safely and securely.

• Mercari Group continuously audits and evaluates the vulnerabilities of AI systems, contrasts these with the most current technical standards, and then puts in place rational measures.
• We continuously collect information regarding the security risks involved in AI systems and put countermeasures in place as necessary.

6.Respect for intellectual property (IP) rights

In the development, provision, and use of AI, we respect the rights of third parties, including intellectual property rights (such as copyrights and patent rights) as well as likeness rights and publicity rights.

• We comply with relevant laws and ordinances, guidelines, and terms of service, and take the necessary measures to ensure our use of AI does not infringe on the rights of other parties.
• Mercari Group has established an internal confirmation system and is thorough in ensuring that our AI usage is legal and ethical when we generate or publicize such things as images, text, or audio.

Reference: Agency for Cultural Affairs “General Understanding on AI and Copyright in Japan”

7.Implement governance with accountability and responsibility

To create trustworthy AI systems, Mercari Group is committed to improving transparency and ensuring accountability to our stakeholders, including our users.

• We provide stakeholders with clear and accessible information on important considerations when using AI systems to encourage their appropriate use.
• We provide stakeholders with clear and appropriate explanations of AI system features, data usage, and the accuracy and potential risks of AI system outputs.
• Mercari Group clearly defines the responsibility structures related to the development, provision, and use of AI systems, and appropriately manages and retains records of relevant processes, decisions, and AI system log data. These structures enable us to respond promptly when a problem occurs or is reported.

In light of rapid advances in AI technology, changes in relevant laws and social norms, feedback from stakeholders, and developments in Mercari Group’s business, this Policy and related AI governance are reviewed regularly and revised as necessary.

• Information on AI governance is available here.