In March 2019, the Yokohama District Court acquitted one defendant, ruling that the cryptocurrency mining program did not constitute a virus.6 A Change.org petition calling for Mori's resignation garnered more than 145,000 signatures in one week. The platform provided data in 42 percent of cases.17. Anonymization provisions allow for personal data to be transferred to a third party without the consent of the subject if specific requirements are met.6 Asymmetric regulation, which creates stricter rules for providers with a higher market share, has helped diversify the industry.6, Beginning in 2014, the government required mobile service providers to unlock SIM cards at user request; this has made it easier for users to switch providers and use third-party prepaid SIM cards.7 The assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has shocked Japan, a country with one of the world's lowest rates of gun crime due to its strict laws on gun ownership. The bill allows users to download image-based material or certain forms of academic content that is meant for private use.6 A 2016 law outlined measures that authorities could take to educate the public about hate speech, while also combating such speech when directed against people of overseas origin and their descendants.4 2, A 2003 law protects personal information collected electronically by private and public-sector organizations when it consists of more than 5,000 records.3 In December 2019, Kawasaki City created the first nondiscrimination ordinance that includes criminal penalties for hate speech in public spaces. Criminal sanctions for misusing personal data and restrictions on the transfer of personal data to overseas jurisdictions that lack equivalent safeguards were also strengthened.7 The China . Many providers bundle digital media subscriptions, including cable television, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services, and email, pushing costs higher. The law obliges agents to notify targets of wiretaps after investigations are concluded and inform the Diet about the number they implement annually. Depictions of genitalia are pixelated to obscure them for internet users based on a commonthough poorly articulatedinterpretation of Article 175 of the penal code, which governs obscenity.7 Are websites, governmental and private entities, service providers, or individual users subject to widespread hacking and other forms of cyberattack? During the current ordinary session of the Diet, the Japanese government plans to revise the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in order to prevent the long-term detention of foreign. A 2011 law criminalized the creation or distribution of computer viruses without a legitimate reason.13 Experts are concerned that the new policies to streamline data handling between the local and central governments will dilute personal information protections previously established by local governments and may enable increased government surveillance.11 Increasingly, however, if we want to find direct government censorship of speech, we don't have to travel far. The Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets came into force in 2014, despite objections from the opposition, civil society, and protesters. In June 2019, the movements organizer, actress and freelance writer Ishikawa Yumi, submitted an online petition, which then bore almost 20,000 signatures, to the Health Ministry calling for an end to the requirement.4 Some companies report on data requests they receive from government agencies. Under the law, all online dating services must register with the police, verify their customers ages with a drivers license or credit card, and delete or block content that appears to involve someone under 18; most services voluntarily monitor messages in real time to ensure compliance. In one significant cyberattack against civil society organizations, at least 33 antinuclear citizens groups were targeted in 2013.5 The information collected is reportedly stored for around two months, during which it is analyzed to determine if it is of interest to the DFS. In 2017, several municipalities asked for a clearer definition of hate speech under the law.7 There are still limits on paid online advertising and campaign emails, which can only be sent directly by a party or candidatenot a supporterin a measure designed to prevent fraud.8 Users rarely face physical and offline harassment in relation to their online activities. Reasons vary from keeping inappropriate material out of reach to trying to stop protests and other public demonstrations from being organized. After NTT Docomo became a wholly owned subsidiary of NTT in December 2020,4 Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and its toll on everyday life, the country has transitioned to new political leadership. In June 2020, the Tokyo High Court reversed a Tokyo District Court ruling that Twitter remove posts which detailed the plaintiffs arrest records.14, Courts have also ordered content to be removed in defamation cases, although there were no such rulings during the coverage period. creator Ken Akamatsu has decided to walk the walk and change Japanese censorship laws by running for office. Observers argue that the industry has generally improved since the MIC was established in 2001, which resulted from the merger of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and the governments Management and Coordination Agency.1, Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) supported by the relevant companies in these three sectors perform a self-regulatory function. The group essentially serves as an online public relations effort for the LDP, though its rules make clear that members are responsible for their own social media posts. To help limit its effectiveness, two local dailies instituted fact-checking processes. No ordinance was proposed or passed at the end of the coverage period. During the same period, Twitter received 16,648 requests for content removal.6 In 2016, Makoto Sakurai, a personality known for anti-Korean rhetoric, opened a channel on online television station AbemaTV; a rush of online criticism followed, and the channel was deleted.4, Social media platforms occasionally restrict content at the governments request. Outstanding challenges include ethnic and gender-based discrimination and claims of improperly close relations between government and the business sector. In 2016, major Japanese news outlets reported that government officials pressured TEPCO not to use the term meltdown at a news conference shortly after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident.5 In May 2021, Aren Hachimura, the younger brother of NBA basketball player Rui Hachimura, received racist messages over SNS. These distinctions, however, are not perfect. 10 Shocking Examples Of Censorship Groups Or Laws by Michael Van Duisen fact checked by Jamie Frater Censorship is the suppression of communication usually deemed harmful by the ruling government. Under the guidelines, anyone can report material that infringes directly on their personal rights to the service provider, either to have it removed or to find out who posted it. Despite promises that the program will not target phones and personal computers, critics have expressed privacy concerns (see C5). In January 2021, the three major mobile phone companies launched new low-cost plans, after decades of pressure from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.3 In addition, some online news outlets struggle to sustain themselves financially. The future of an independent NHK is crucial given the increasing demand for impartial, objective and trusted sources of information. Iwakami was sentenced to pay 330,000 ($2,992) in September 2019 after he retweeted a post from 2017 that suggested Hashimoto was responsible for the suicide of one of his subordinates.3, Several users have been arrested and charged under a 2011 law criminalizing the creation and use of computer viruses without a legitimate reason (see C2). Cybersecurity efforts ramped up ahead of the summer Olympics, which were originally planned for 2020, particularly around internet of things (IoT) devices.1, In October 2020, the UK National Cyber Security Centre revealed that Russian military intelligence was planning a cyberattack on the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in the summer of 2021 in an attempt to disrupt the event.2 The reporting claimed that the government deployed a clandestine online surveillance program, dubbed MALLARD, to observe communications passing between satellites.16 Once the SIA receives a report, it will either file a police report or make a request for removal to the relevant domestic or overseas provider.18. It is a point of pride in the US that freedom of speech is written into the Constitution. The MIC requested that four industry associations monitor false or unsubstantiated content circulating about the disaster online. Does monitoring and collection of user data by service providers and other technology companies infringe on users right to privacy? Authorities have used the law to convict the operators of manga piracy site Mangamura (see C2 and C3). Some of those arrested were fined 100,000 ($906).5 censorship - The Japan Times censorship Asia Pacific Jul 25, 2021 One month since closing of Apple Daily, concern over Hong Kong free press lingers by Caroline Tam Apple Daily's closure and. Japan is a multiparty parliamentary democracy. While Article 21 of the Constitution of Japan guarantees freedom of expression and prohibits formal censorship, effective censorship of obscene content does exist and is justified by the Article 175 of the Criminal Code of Japan.Historically, the law has been interpreted in different waysrecently it has been . Abe was . In June 2018, the government convened a panel to review potential legislation targeting websites that host pirated content. The IHCs website offers online forms for reporting objectionable content, such as material that features obscene images, child sexual abuse images, illegal drugs, or prostitution, as well as a referencing system that allows users to look up the status of submitted reports. Does the online information landscape lack diversity and reliability? In June 2008, the law was amended to prohibit the transfer of SIM cards without permission and to require rental companies to verify the identity of customers.1, There are no explicit restrictions on encryption. While these provisions were contested, and revisions are still planned,9 Are there economic or regulatory constraints that negatively affect users ability to publish content online? No major incidents of physical violence related to peoples online activity were reported during the coverage period, though incidents of online harassment and intimidation, particularly against women, individuals with at least one Black parent, and medical personnel, did occur (see C7). It was not clear how much of the monitoring involved digital as opposed to physical surveillance.14. In May 2021, the NICT released a summary of NOTICE-related activities, disclosing that it attempted to access 112 million IP addresses, and that the NOTICE alert detected 1,817 targets and notified service providers.6, The conspiracy law passed in 2017 raised the possibility of more government surveillance. The 2014 state secrets law, which covers national security issues, may make surveillance abuses harder to document (see C1 and C2). There are few obstacles to internet access, no blocks on websites, and the legal framework provides strong protections for various forms of expression. It criminalized planning to commit a series of newly designated serious crimes that could supposedly fund terrorism, including copyright violations, potentially making more suspects subject to wiretaps. competitors and others criticized the acquisition, saying it was contrary to the intent of the 1999 NTT Law. On February 19, 2021, the Justice Ministry announced that 20,120 mobile phone calls were tapped in 20 cases during 2020, leading to 152 arrests. Access to the internet remains relatively equal across different segments of the population. politicians who violate the existing restrictions face a potential fine of 300,000 ($2,720) or one year in prison; imprisonment would strip perpetrators of their right to vote or run for office. People can freely use the internet to mobilize, and netizens did so during the reporting period, notably to protest discrimination against women and LGBT+ communities. The Act on Prevention of Improper Use of Mobile Phones (2005) requires mobile voice communication carriers to verify the identity of subscribers when a contract was terminated or transferred, in order to prevent a situation in which cell phone subscribers cannot be identified. The Inclusive Internet Index 2021 report ranks Japan 17th out of 120 countries surveyed in terms of availability, determined by quality and breadth of available infrastructure.1 Japanese man arrested for stealing women's shoes and replacing them with new ones; Japanese office disaster: man pees in drink bottle of woman coworker because "he liked her" Japanese Twitter reacts to Logan Paul's "Japanese Suicide Forest" video; Man travels 100 kilometers in middle of the night in Japan to punch another dude in . However, a revised and newly enacted anti-piracy law criminalizes illegally downloading manga, magazines, and academic texts, but did not expand the governments ability to block websites (see C2).3. They include televisions Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization and the Internet Content Safety Association, which manages the blocking of child sexual abuse images online.2 Sharp regional cost disparities exist; service was more expensive in Japans major cities in 2020, with customers paying an average of 3,835 ($36.89) per month. The provider notifies the individual who posted the content and fulfills the request with the posters permissionor without it if the individual fails to respond. Germany, which has. The 2013 My Number law introduced a unique 12-digit number for all long-term residents used to access unified social welfare services and taxation purposes. Some companies cooperate with investigative authorities by turning over their users' data without receiving a court order. Customers in small cities, towns, and villages paid an average monthly price of nearly 3,024 ($29.04). Edit: is it true CERO does not need to look at PC games? He pleaded guilty to violating Japan's copyright and obscenity laws, NHK reported this month. 10 In February 2019, civil society groups and ordinary users issued a joint statement asking the MIC to suspend the program,5 Security agents and the military were accused of conducting illegal surveillance in cases involving national security in 2003 and 2004.13 In June 2020, Japan passed amendments to the Act on the Protection of Personal Information. the use of Googles Person Finder web application to facilitate rescue and recovery,2 Article 21 of Japans constitution prohibits censorship and protects freedom of speech, press, and all other forms of expression, as well as the secrecy of any means of communication.1 Some companies offer free Wi-Fi, including the private company Wire and Wireless (Wi2), part of the KDDI group, which provides free internet access in restaurants, coffee shops, and train stations; registration requires an email address.6 Amid rising concerns over misinformation online - including surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, especially vaccines - Americans are now a bit more open to the idea of the U.S. government taking steps to restrict false information online.And a majority of the public continues to favor technology companies taking such action, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Messaging apps, such as WhatsApp and Viber, are often. Many experts have indicated their concern about ambiguous components of the law that could be abused. No third party can do so. Donald Trump's claim that his anti-BDS order "targets antisemitism" was presented as fact in the New York Times headline ( 12/10/19 . In January 2021, the revised Copyright Act, which criminalizes the downloading of unlicensed manga, magazines, and academic publications, took effect. In addition, individuals who knowingly receive secrets from an administrative organ risk up to five years imprisonment if the disclosures are found to be intentional, and one year for disclosures made through negligence.1 Cyberattacks occasionally target civil society and private companies, although none were reported during the coverage period. Glad to see Japanese publishers standing up to Western companies. However, the LDP ultimately decided not to submit a bill on LGBT+ equality due to strong opposition by some conservative lawmakers.8, In early 2019, users rallied behind a Tokyo Shimbun reporter who was targeted by the government. Four of its women characters, Jean, Amber, Mona and Rosaria, would be getting new "alternate . In April 2021, a bill was unanimously passed and enacted in the Diet which amends the Provider Liability Limitation Act to make it easier to identify users who allegedly slander people on the internet. Some private companies occasionally accept the governments requests to remove content. In June 2016, the Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge to the police practice of monitoring places of worship and other venues used by members of the Muslim community. The court indicated that points such as the content of the search results, the scope of disclosure, the social status of the persons involved, the social situation, and the necessity of disclosing facts were critical in deciding whether search engine results should be removed.13 According to Article 23(1) of Japan's Public Housing Law, it only applies to married and unmarried different-sex couples. Individuals can be sentenced to up to three years in prison or fines of up to 500,000 ($4,534). Amendments passed by the Diet in 2015 defined personal information in more specific terms as biometric information and numeric data that is capable of identifying a specific individual.5 Are there laws that assign criminal penalties or civil liability for online activities, particularly those that are protected under international human rights standards? Despite this pushback, the MIC supported NTT.5 Political bots have also permeated the Japanese internet. The article does not define what constitutes obscenity, leading to concerns that it could be invoked against artistic expression or used to curtail the rights of LGBT+ people.12. Japanese and American Legal Systems. A number of laws regulate online activity, including by imposing civil and criminal liability. Do online journalists, commentators, and ordinary users practice self-censorship? In May 2019, it was revealed that the national government and Fukushima Prefecture paid over 24 billion ($217 million) to an advertising agency to manage public relations, including in online outlets, after the disaster.6. Masayuki Nakamoto, 43, was said to have made about 11 million yen ($96,000) from peddling over 10,000 processed porn clips, and was formally accused of selling ten hardcore photos for 2,300 yen ($20). In June 2021, after the coverage period, the Fukuoka District Court sentenced Romi Hoshino to three years in prison and a fine of 10 million ($90,692) for allegedly operating the manga piracy website, Mangamura (see B1). Score Change: The score improved from 5 to 6 because the government did not block any websites or platforms during the coverage period. With the space for such advocacy under threat in many . Do the constitution or other laws fail to protect rights such as freedom of expression, access to information, and press freedom, including on the internet, and are they enforced by a judiciary that lacks independence? Some tabloid newspapers and online news outlets have reportedly harassed journalists who disagreed with the government more broadly.4, Women also continue to face targeted online harassment. The government has also invested heavily in Wi-Fi networks in preparation for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were postponed and held in August 2021.5 On February 2, 2021, the Indonesian Government enacted the implementing regulation of the Omnibus Law (Law No.11 of 2020 on Job Creation) regarding the environmental sector, Government Regulation No. Share Share. Does state surveillance of internet activities infringe on users right to privacy? In February 2021, protests erupted against then chairman of the Tokyo Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Yoshiro Mori, after he said "board meetings involving many women are lengthy and that women on the organizing committee all [knew] their place. Protestors, particularly women, used the hashtags #WomenWhoRefuseToKnowTheirPlace and #DontBeSilent in a show of solidarity and in defiance of sexism. Ordinance was proposed or passed at the end of the monitoring involved digital as opposed physical... 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