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On June 13th, the Japanese Diet passed a new law, specifying that acts of 'online defamation' may face imprisonment or administrative fines, with penalties of up to one year in prison or a fine of ¥300,000 (about 51 million Vietnamese dong).This is a newly amended law based on similar statutes in Japan's criminal law - but the previous penalties were considered 'quite lenient' as offenders only faced detention of less than 30 days and the highest fine to pay was ¥10,000 (about 1.7 million Vietnamese dong). After three years since its official implementation, the legislative body will reassess its impact.The new law will take effect by the end of this summer, amidst the increasing prevalence of internet bullying in Japan, particularly on social media platforms, resulting in serious consequences. The recent uproar in Japanese public discourse revolves around online bullying/harassment, notably the suicide of Japanese professional wrestler and reality TV star Hana Kimura due to enduring online harassment/bullying.
Hana KimuraAfter its announcement, the law has sparked considerable controversy. Opponents argue that it will hinder people's freedom of speech, especially when they want to criticize authorities, while supporters believe that stricter legislation is necessary to deter online bullying/harassment. Criminal defense attorney Seiho Cho suggests the need for specific guidelines to differentiate between defamatory behavior and other actions. For example, under the new law, 'even calling Japanese leaders fools would be categorized as defaming others'.
