An online petition in support of the journalist also gathered more than 17,000 signatures.10. 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. 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. And in Japan, case law precedent offers non . The Emperor shall be the symbol of the State and of the unity of the People, deriving his position from the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power. Mosaic destruction. An online petition that received 145,000 signatures called for the resignation of the chairman of the Tokyo Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Yoshiro Mori, after he made sexist comments. Overseen by government officials rather than an independent body, it offers no protection for whistleblowers who reveal wrongdoing.3. Political bots have also permeated the Japanese internet. 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. The laws authors struggled to balance restrictions on racial and ethnic slurs with freedom of expression guarantees in the constitution.5 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. Abe was . See all data, scores & information on this country or territory. 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 2. Japans antistalking law, originally enacted in 2000, was revised in 2013 to address email harassment, and further revised in 2016 to penalize repeated blog posts or messages on social networking services.15. 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 . 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 The amendments are set to come into effect in 2022.1, In May 2021, the government launched an investigation into the data management polices of LINE, a messaging application with servers based in Japan, after a report revealed that Chinese engineers had accessed LINEs data without the companys knowledge. 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. 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. Scientifically speaking, it depends on how the original censorship mosaic . The National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGHM) announced that it was the target of about 5.3 million ransomware attacks in 2020, compared to 1.2 million incidents in 2019, though they reported that sensitive research and personal information was not compromised during these attacks.12. 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 This law doesn't make any sense and it just have the opposite effect. Internet freedom continued to improve in Japan during this reporting period. But in the eyes of . 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 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. 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. In February 2019, the NICT, under the MIC, launched the NOTICE program,4 Major mobile service providers require customers to present identification documents in order to subscribe. China. In other words, even after the new law goes into effect, a . Social Media Platforms; Prohibiting a social media platform from willfully deplatforming a candidate; providing requirements for public contracts and economic incentives related to entities that have been convicted or held civilly liable for antitrust violations; providing that social media platforms that fail to comply with specified 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. The law is scheduled to take effect by the end of 2022. However, there is some criticism that the ongoing price war has prevented smaller companies from entering the market.4 A Myanmar citizen has filed a complaint at the Norwegian Data Protection Authority against Telenor Group under Article 77(1) of the European Union . There are few obstacles to internet access, no blocks on websites, and the legal framework provides strong protections for various forms of expression. In June 2020, the founder of news site Independent Web Journal, Yasumi Iwakami, had his appeal dismissed regarding a fine he was required to pay for allegedly defaming former Osaka prefectural governor, Toru Hashimoto. The move raised serious concerns over whether blocking was constitutionally allowed, and the government later indicated that it would introduce legislation to broaden its blocking authority (see B3). Individuals who have criticized the ruling LDP and the government have also faced targeted harassment. 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. (Feb. 22, 2021) On December 30, 2020, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin signedFederal Law No. 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 According to Article 23(1) of Japan's Public Housing Law, it only applies to married and unmarried different-sex couples. 22 of 2021 on Environmental Protection and Management ("GR No.22/2021"). In addition, some online news outlets struggle to sustain themselves financially. Japanese individuals, particularly women, have used the internet to protest against gender-based discrimination and effect tangible change. The law did not actually ban or penalize hate speech, leading some critics to argue that it would be ineffective.6 In 2016, the IHC began providing reports to Safe-line, a website maintained by the SIA.17 creator Ken Akamatsu has decided to walk the walk and change Japanese censorship laws by running for office. Since the laws introduction, many cities have subsequently moved to legislate against hate speech (see C2). Are online sources of information controlled or manipulated by the government or other powerful actors to advance a particular political interest? 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. If a device is successfully hacked, its owner will be advised to strengthen security measures, for instance by making their passwords more complex. 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. However, harassment and intimidation, particularly against women and individuals with at least one Black parent, persist. Due in part to strong infrastructure, internet access is widely available to users in Japan. Three men and three women, who acted as instructors and executors alongside Hoshino, were also convicted of violating the Copyright Act.1 The brothers father is from West Africa. Despite promises that the program will not target phones and personal computers, critics have expressed privacy concerns (see C5). Government statistics show that the average cost of internet access for households with two or more people across Japan in 2020 was 3,601 ($34.59) compared with 3,753 ($36.05) in 2017.2 Does monitoring and collection of user data by service providers and other technology companies infringe on users right to privacy? 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. However, in October of 2012, the Japanese government stated that Article 23(1) was abolished and, therefore, same-sex . Between July and December 2020, Facebook restricted access to one piece of content in response to an order from Brazils Supreme Court related to pages that supported Brazilian President Bolsanaro.5 In recent years, content removals have focused on hate speech and illegal content, including child sexual abuse images and intimate images shared without the subjects consent. Finally, the amendments established the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) as an independent authority under the Cabinet Office, replacing the Consumer Affairs Agency.8, Changes to the legal frameworks surrounding privacy and surveillance are often considered in the ongoing digitization of citizens personal records. 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. While the government is relatively transparent in its censorship decisions, previous blocking and efforts to give authorities more censorship power have raised concerns. There are some known cases of the government or powerful groups proactively manipulating online news or other content. Otherwise, individuals or police ask ISPs to administratively delete contested or illegal content. Some of those arrested were fined 100,000 ($906).5 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. 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 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. 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. Mosaics cover genitalia. Does the government exercise technical or legal control over internet infrastructure for the purposes of restricting connectivity? With seemingly no judicial oversight and potential access to millions of users personal devices, NOTICE has raised serious privacy concerns. 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. In July 2020, lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party urged the government to restrict the use of TikTok over concerns that Chinese officials might be able to access sensitive user data via the app.1 Ahead of the Okinawa gubernatorial election in September 2018, misinformation again spread online.4 Do restrictions on the internet and digital content lack transparency, proportionality to the stated aims, or an independent appeals process? Four of its women characters, Jean, Amber, Mona and Rosaria, would be getting new "alternate . Other laws regulate online activity but are not known to have resulted in abuse or disproportionate penalties. 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 Due to Tokuras previous position and his lobbying efforts on behalf of JASRAC, his appointment sparked concerns about his ability to balance protecting the rights of artists and creators while also ensuring the freedom of individuals who use copyrighted works.8. It was not clear how much of the monitoring involved digital as opposed to physical surveillance.14. The number of interceptions has more than doubled from the previous year, partly due to the introduction of new procedures that allow the police to wiretap individuals without witnesses from telecommunication companies.11, The wiretap law was controversial when it passed, in part due to the authorities periodic abuse of surveillance powers.12 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 That same month, the ministry disclosed that Kobe Steel, NEC, and aerial surveying company Pasco were also targeted by cyberattacks between 2016 and 2018.9, Public attention to cybersecurity threats has increased since mid-2015, when 1.25 million citizens were affected by the release of personal information obtained by hackers who illegally accessed Japans pension system using an email virus.10, In 2020, as Japanese companies shifted to telework during the pandemic, the number of ransomware attacks surged to unprecedented levels, shutting down operations and paralyzing computer and email systems. The China . 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. In November 2018, the amended Telecommunications Business Act and the Act on the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) came into effect.3 At the end of the coverage period, the government had not taken steps to restrict use of the platform. Blogs have a significant impact on public opinion, and several independent journalists are becoming influential through personal or commercial websites and social media accounts. although the program continued. A law enacted in 2003 and revised in 2008 prohibits electronic communications encouraging sexual activity with minors.14 Do national regulatory bodies that oversee service providers and digital technology fail to operate in a free, fair, and independent manner? 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 Law enforcement requests for this data should be supported by a warrant.4 Many providers bundle digital media subscriptions, including cable television, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services, and email, pushing costs higher. 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. While the censorship and oppression Imperial Japan committed against journalists and the Japanese left pales in comparison to its actions and cover-ups in countries such as China, Korea and the Philippines, it should nonetheless be publicized and confronted. 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. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in online harassment directed at medical personnel and individuals who allegedly contracted COVID-19. the change was expected to allow tourists who were supposed to visit Japan during the 2020 Summer Olympics to more easily access mobile services.10. Kisha clubs include reporters covering institutions such as government ministries or major corporations but are only open to traditional media companies.1 Hana Kimura was subject to harassment, primarily because of her gender, after she appeared on the reality television show "Terrace House. In May 2020, Kimura committed suicide. 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