Japan plans to step up defenses against outside election interference
The government says that in the Upper House election in July, some false information about political parties and candidates appears to have been spread by automated bots, possibly from overseas.
Japan's National Security Secretariat and the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office work together to handle such threats.
But some critics say Japan's system is weaker than those of Western nations. They also say the development of AI technologies is making the risk of other countries interfering in elections even greater.
The government is now considering setting up a new unit in the Cabinet Secretariat to play a central role in addressing the risk and making legal arrangements.
Officials are also studying advanced measures used in other countries to establish what needs to be done in Japan.
Digital Transformation Minister Taira Masaaki told NHK that Japan is now a target. He said elections are the foundation of democracy, and that it is important to bolster the country's defenses to prevent foreign interference through false online information.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NHK
3 minutes ago
- NHK
Trump stresses 'peace through strength' in WWII anniversary message
US President Donald Trump says his administration remains committed to upholding a foreign policy of "peace through strength". The White House released his message on its website to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. Trump said, "More than 100,000 Americans perished in the Pacific Theater alone." He praised the fallen soldiers, saying that "the Japanese Empire was defeated, ensuring that the world would be spared from the oppressive clutches of destruction and tyranny." He added, "Today, Japan has become our strongest ally in the Pacific, hosting more than 50,000 American troops who stand guard against new totalitarian regimes and their expansive ambitions." The president noted that "peace is never promised, but is earned through sacrifice, defended with strength."
Japan Times
10 hours ago
- Japan Times
Japan to accelerate development of logistics network in Africa
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will unveil Japan's plan to accelerate the development of the Nacala Corridor, a logistics network in Africa, at the upcoming ninth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), informed sources said. The planned corridor, which will link the inland African country of Zambia and a port in Mozambique in the southeastern part of the continent via Malawi, is aimed at enhancing supply chains for mineral resources. Zambia is a mineral-rich country, and minerals such as copper and cobalt produced there are mainly exported through ports in Angola, western Africa. Using Nacala port in Mozambique, however, is more convenient for exports to Japan. The Japanese government has been developing the Nacala Corridor since 2012. At the three-day event starting Wednesday in Yokohama, Ishiba, who will chair the conference, will pledge Tokyo's support for the three countries hosting the Nacala Corridor by utilizing investment and loan programs of private firms and international organizations, as well as the government's official development assistance program. Specifically, Japan will support the development of water facilities and highways in order to promote industrial growth and increase the value of the areas. Japan is slated to launch a new initiative to strengthen economic ties with India, the Middle East and Africa. The government will support Japanese companies' advances into these regions by helping expand trade and investment through the new economic initiative and the Nacala Corridor. By leveraging the Nacala Corridor, Japan aims to increase its competitiveness with China, which is trying to increase its presence in Africa by providing countries in the continent with subsidies. Establishing solid supply chains for critical minerals is "directly associated with Japan's economic security," a Japanese government official said. "The development of the Nacala Corridor will contribute to the development of Africa and also benefit Japan." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is slated to visit Japan in order to attend the conference, where he will underscore TICAD's importance and the potential growth of Africa, a spokesperson said Friday. After attending the conference, Guterres is slated to visit the Osaka Expo.
11 hours ago
Taiwan Foreign Chief's Visit Affecting Japan-China Relations
News from Japan Politics Aug 16, 2025 13:38 (JST) Tokyo, Aug. 16 (Jiji Press)--Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung's latest trip to Japan has affected Japan-China ties, with Beijing canceling at the last minute a bilateral meeting of agriculture ministers. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi avoided going into detail in a press conference on Friday, stating only, "We understand that (the ministerial meeting) was not held due to scheduling conflicts of both sides." Chinese agriculture minister Han Jun was set to visit Japan to hold a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, on Tuesday, after a trilateral agriculture ministers' meeting involving the two nations plus South Korea held in Incheon near South Korea's capital, Seoul, on Monday. Many within the Japanese government consider Lin's Japan visit in late July to be the reason for the cancellation. The Taiwanese side has said that the foreign chief had made a personal visit to Japan. During the trip, however, he held talks with Keiji Furuya of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who heads a suprapartisan group of Japanese lawmakers aiming for stronger Tokyo-Taipei relations, and other Japanese officials. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
