On Monday, the rules approved by parliament, which will come into effect in March, also prohibit internet users and platforms from spreading false or distorted information about candidates.
“We believe this is extremely important to ensure the fairness of elections,” said Yoshimasa Hayashi, whose ministry oversees elections and telecommunications, at a press conference.
The new rules were adopted following accusations of the use of AI-generated content to discredit candidates during the 2025 leadership election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the parliamentary elections held in February.
Unlike the laws adopted by the European Union (EU) regarding social networks, Japanese authorities will not be able to impose penalties for non-compliance with the rules, which has raised questions about their effectiveness in the local media.
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The business daily “Nikkei” said this may be because Tokyo wants to avoid friction arising between Washington and Brussels over fines imposed under the bloc’s Digital Services Act.
The Japanese government plans to set guidelines for platform operators on how to comply with these rules and require annual reports on their implementation, the news agency Kyodo News reported.
Japanese government officials said that in drafting the new rules, they had to find a balance between freedom of speech and the inviolability of democratic elections.
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