Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Japan Eyes Internet Crackdown

Tough new proposals protect children, copyrights

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 4, 2008 12:45 PM CST
Email

(Newser) – Japan has taken a relaxed approach to controlling the Internet in the past, but the government is planning to ratchet up regulation, Ars Technica reports. The communications ministry is looking at ways to bring web and mobile content in line with heavily regulated traditional media. Concerns are high about libelous slurs on the net and youngsters viewing pornography.

Copyright issues will be tackled as well. One of the tougher proposals calls for all copyrighted digital media to be stamped with a virtual watermark, with any material not bearing the mark declared illegal. Japanese bloggers have slammed the proposals as "outrageous" and expressed alarm that internet content will be regulated by the government instead of an independent watchdog group.

A passer-by walks past a NTT DoCoMo Inc in Tokyo in this Friday, July 27, 2007 file photo. DoCoMo is top among the country's mobile carriers, all of which have been asked to start filtering content for under-18s.
A passer-by walks past a NTT DoCoMo Inc in Tokyo in this Friday, July 27, 2007 file photo. DoCoMo is top among the country's mobile carriers, all of which have been asked to start filtering content for...   (Associated Press)
A Japanese senior learns how to use the Internet. Japan's government has up until now taken a far more relaxed approach to regulating the Internet than its neighbour, China, but there are some tough new regulations in the works.
A Japanese senior learns how to use the Internet. Japan's government has up until now taken a far more relaxed approach to regulating the Internet than its neighbour, China, but there are some tough new...   (Getty Images)
A man walks by a billboard showing interior of a 24-hour Internet manga cafe in Tokyo Monday, May 7, 2007. The Japanese government is looking into regulating the country's Internet consumption for the first time. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
A man walks by a billboard showing interior of a 24-hour Internet manga cafe in Tokyo Monday, May 7, 2007. The Japanese government is looking into regulating the country's Internet consumption for the...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Japan's proposals in detail
Gyaka.jp

 
Internet • Japan • censorship • Internet security • watermark • peer to peer

More Newser Stories

Aussies Censor Internet

Hackers Hit Internet Giant VeriSign

Help! We're Being Killed by Cuteness

China Orders Websites to Register Names of Users

Iran Uses Internet to Spy on Dissidents
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne