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). See all data, scores & information on this country or territory. No ordinance was proposed or passed at the end of the coverage period. Japanese individuals, particularly women, have used the internet to protest against gender-based discrimination and effect tangible change. 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 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. A 2011 law criminalized the creation or distribution of computer viruses without a legitimate reason.13 In February 2020, the Defense Ministry reported that some sensitive information may have been leaked as the result of the Mitsubishi breach.8 In a 2015 lawsuit, the Tokyo High Court ordered Yahoo Japan to delete 11 search results that linked a mans name to criminal behavior. Those who violate the revised law face up to two years imprisonment, a 2 million ($18,138) fine, or both. Individuals who are half-black and half-Japanese, continue to face racism online. Four of its women characters, Jean, Amber, Mona and Rosaria, would be getting new "alternate . In this scenario, an ISP could give the complainant information to identify the postersuch as their name or IP addresswithout that persons consent, raising privacy concerns. Individuals and public figures who break this social convention risk censure and even attacks from right-wing extremists, who notoriously attempted to assassinate the mayor of Nagasaki on these grounds in 1990. Twitter complied with 29.4 percent of the requests.7. Do conditions impede users ability to mobilize, form communities, and campaign, particularly on political and social issues? However, recent developments in Japan have raised serious concerns about increased surveillance, including reports of opaque surveillance operations and the approval of a conspiracy law that may allow police to seek wiretap warrants in a wider range of circumstances. Weibo, China's answer to Twitter, has long been a prime target for stringent online censorship thanks to its broad audience base and ability to help influence public opinion. Changes to broadcasting laws in 1950 prohibited the government from direct interference with programmingthough its board of governors is still appointed by the prime minister and its budget approved by the Dietand permitted the establishment of private commercial broadcasting stations. The individuals defense team plans to file an appeal.8. Japans telecommunications infrastructure is advanced, and there have been no reports of the government deliberately disconnecting telecommunications service. The court stated that removal of information can be demanded only when privacy protection concerns clearly outweigh the publics interest in the disclosure of information online.12 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 Overseen by government officials rather than an independent body, it offers no protection for whistleblowers who reveal wrongdoing.3. Internet caf users are required to produce formal identification documents such as a drivers license, and to register their name and address. Do online journalists, commentators, and ordinary users practice self-censorship? Some of those arrested were fined 100,000 ($906).5 The judge also ordered the confiscation of approximately 62 million ($562,290) that Hoshino had hidden in overseas bank accounts. 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. The PS4 launched in 2013, but Japan's release came afterward. Donald Trump's claim that his anti-BDS order "targets antisemitism" was presented as fact in the New York Times headline ( 12/10/19 . No third party can do so. In the future, says one pundit, that will change. As 2021 nears its close, a spasm of book banning has spread surprisingly quickly among state and local officials. However, in February 2020, he was convicted and received a 100,000 ($906) fine, after the Tokyo High Court overturned the acquittal.7 Scientifically speaking, it depends on how the original censorship mosaic . (Feb. 22, 2021) On December 30, 2020, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin signedFederal Law No. March 23, 2021, 2:30 PM Japan granted asylum to less than 1 percent of refugees and asylum-seekers who applied in 2019, despite having the third-largest economy in the world. Independent online media and citizen media outlets have faced obstacles in their work, particularly due to the prevalence of the kisha club, or formal press association, system. Is access to the internet prohibitively expensive or beyond the reach of certain segments of the population for geographical, social, or other reasons? Score Change: The score improved from 5 to 6 because the government did not block any websites or platforms during the coverage period. Messaging apps, such as WhatsApp and Viber, are often. 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. However, most online media remain small and community based.1 Major mobile service providers require customers to present identification documents in order to subscribe. Are websites, governmental and private entities, service providers, or individual users subject to widespread hacking and other forms of cyberattack? Analysis of about half a million sample tweets posted before and after Japan's 2014 general election revealed that most posts were near-duplicates or retweets of those posted by bots, including many that disseminated nationalist or progovernment messages.3 The constitutional right to secrecy of communications is also protected under telecommunications laws.2 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. In Japan it is now against the law to be mean on the internet. According to Article 23(1) of Japan's Public Housing Law, it only applies to married and unmarried different-sex couples. Under the amended law, an individual can request the court to disclose information about a sender who posted defamatory content. COVID-19 patients and individuals who allegedly tested positive for the virus also faced harassment on social media.2. Google reported 145 requests for user data between January and June 2020 and produced some data in 83 percent of cases.16 Today, however, this concept is, in our view, distorted and fought against. Observers have accused MIC officials and the prime minister's office of trying to restrict or influence content under the broadcast law.3, There are substantial concerns that MIC officials are increasingly influenced by business executives who use gifts to garner favor for their policies from government officials. Some municipal governments have also introduced local ordinances on hate speech, including the government of Osaka in 2016. Offenders can face prison sentences of up to three years or fines as large as 500,000 ($4,534), and third-party distribution can draw up to a years imprisonment and a fine of 300,000 ($2,720).14 In 2002, industry associations produced guidelines designed to protect ISPs from legal liability within the jurisdiction of the Japanese courts. Following her death, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications announced her intention to amend the Provider Liability Limitation Law (see C4).5 Internet freedom continued to improve in Japan during this reporting period. A new law makes "online insults" punishable with jail time! Individuals who have criticized the ruling LDP and the government have also faced targeted harassment. 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). The book concludes by assessing the current state of censorship in Japan and likely future developments. However, the ordinance did stipulate that the city would take measures to prevent the spread of hate on the internet.17 No citizens faced politically motivated arrest or prosecution for their online activity during the coverage period. Taniwaki, who had been instrumental in the governments policies on mobile phone prices, was quickly transferred to another position.7, In March 2021, the Cabinet approved Shunichi Tokura, the former chairman of the Japan Music Rights Association (JASRAC), as Commissioner for Cultural Affairs. 1850 M St. NW Floor 11 Reasons vary from keeping inappropriate material out of reach to trying to stop protests and other public demonstrations from being organized. In November 2020, Capcom, a prominent video game company, reported that it paid a 1.1 billion ($9.9 million) ransom in exchange for the recovery of stolen materials.11 Shortly after NTT announced that it would comply with the governments request, a customer sued the company on the grounds that the blocking violated privacy guarantees.3, In the wake of the blocking attempts, the government indicated that it would introduce new legislation to expand its authority to formally order blocking, which current legislation allows only for sites found to host child sexual abuse images.4 In April 2021, CrowdStrike, a US cybersecurity company, stated that the risk of cyberattacks at the event was low because of the restrictions on audience.3. Kisha clubs provide essential access to officials in Japan, but they have been accused of denying such access to young journalists and new media outlets; the system may also limit some reporters access to certain locations, such as areas affected by the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Otherwise, individuals or police ask ISPs to administratively delete contested or illegal content. Digital activism in Japan has been highly effective at both the local and the national level, and online mobilization tools are freely available. Kisha clubs and an advertising market that favors established players may be preventing digital media from gaining a stronger foothold in the market. As of 2021, the internet penetration rate for households stood at 93 percent.2, Providers continue to develop telecommunications infrastructure, in part to alleviate mobile network congestion. The court has up to six months to decide whether to order a content provider to disclose the senders information, and can also order access providers to retain senders information during the proceedings. But in the eyes of . Some companies report on data requests they receive from government agencies. Individuals can be sentenced to up to three years in prison or fines of up to 500,000 ($4,534). Access to the internet remains relatively equal across different segments of the population. There are periodic reports of arrests under the copyright law, which carries possible prison terms for both uploading and downloading content without the permission of the copyright owner (see C2). This year, China's National Film Board tightened regulations on foreign films requiring that they now undergo a second round of reviews by the Chinese Communist Party. 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 A coalition of groups, including the Japan Internet Providers Association and the Movement of Internet Active Users, an organization that advocates for users rights, lobbied against the mandate, and mobile users can now select voluntary filters.9, Right to be forgotten cases increased around the same time as a landmark 2014 decision on the topic by the Court of Justice of the European Union. Heightened awareness of nonconsensual sharing of intimate images and online harassment culminated in the adoption of a law criminalizing such activity in 2014. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in online harassment directed at medical personnel and individuals who allegedly contracted COVID-19. Ensafi's team found that censorship is increasing in 103 of the countries studied, including unexpected places like Norway, Japan, Italy, India, Israel and Polandcountries which the paper notes are rated as some of the freest in the world by advocacy group Freedom House. Arbitrariness And Censorship Are Back In The West Written by Thierry MEYSSAN on 02/01/2021 When we founded the Voltaire Network in 1994, our first concern was to defend freedom of expression in France, and then around the world. Man arrested after using AI to 'destroy' censor mosaics in Japanese adult videos Oct. 25, 2021 06:00 am JST 0 Comment TOKYO Kyoto prefectural police officers have arrested a 43-year-old male resident of Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture. Japan's parliament enacted the proposed revised copyright law on Friday to expand the law to punish those who knowingly download illegally uploaded or pirated manga, magazines, and academic works . If the poster refuses permission, the service provider is authorized to assess the complaint and act on it if it is deemed legitimate. Are individuals subject to extralegal intimidation or physical violence by state authorities or any other actor in relation to their online activities? The telecommunications, internet, and broadcast sectors are regulated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) rather than an independent commission. In 2021, authorities fined Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, Google, TikTok, and other internet companies a total of at least 187 million RUB (US$2.5 million) over failures to take down supposedly. However, in June 2018, Okamoto Kenichiro, known as Hagex online, was murdered in Fukuoka after presenting a seminar on best practices to deal with online disagreements and abuse, among other topics.7 The law is scheduled to take effect by the end of 2022. Article 3. This code sets the age of consent for sexual activity at 13 for girls and 14 for boys, and it has remained unchanged since then. Musician Takemura Kiriko authored a Twitter post in favor of the campaign that month, but deleted it after some social media users left negative comments. At the end of the coverage period, the government had not taken steps to restrict use of the platform. The MIC requested that four industry associations monitor false or unsubstantiated content circulating about the disaster online. However, several cases of online harassment were documented during the coverage period. 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 With this, they brought an end to his nine-month spree of destruction. The Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets came into force in 2014, despite objections from the opposition, civil society, and protesters. Despite promises that the program will not target phones and personal computers, critics have expressed privacy concerns (see C5). During the previous reporting period, a number of users were charged with virus-related offenses (see C3). Are there laws that assign criminal penalties or civil liability for online activities, particularly those that are protected under international human rights standards? This law doesn't make any sense and it just have the opposite effect. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and its toll on everyday life, the country has transitioned to new political leadership. Japan tends to censor some stuff like decapitations and gore. After a three-month delay in rollout due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rakuten Mobile launched 5G services in September 2020.4 The reporting claimed that the government deployed a clandestine online surveillance program, dubbed MALLARD, to observe communications passing between satellites.16 22/2021, which came into force in February 2021, simplifies the licensing and certain other procedures required . although the program continued. Do national regulatory bodies that oversee service providers and digital technology fail to operate in a free, fair, and independent manner? In May 2018, public broadcaster NHK and the Intercept reported on the activities of the Directorate for Signals Intelligence (DFS), a spy agency that monitors and analyzes electronic communications.15 Japanese politician Yamada Taro has proposed changes to Criminal Code 175, so that hentai and pornography would no longer be censored. 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. The 2001 Provider Liability Limitation Act directed ISPs to establish a self-regulatory framework to govern takedown requests involving illegal or objectionable content, defamation, privacy violations, and copyright infringement.9 The book also examines the conflict between the obscenity law, introduced in Meiji times when Japan was importing Western models, and the freedom of speech law, which was put in place by the US occupation administration after World War II. Historically, Japans internet connections were forged through cooperation among government agencies (including then government-owned NTT), universities, and national research institutions.2. Such posts have attacked critics of the LDP government and have at times initiated negative campaigns against opposition lawmakers.1 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. Article 175 of the Criminal Code of Japan is to prevent the distribution and sale of of indecent material, and its current interpretation includes pornography. 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. 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