Tokyo, Nov. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration is considering introducing a registration system for foreign agents as part of its planned antiespionage legislation. Under the expected system, individuals and organizations that collect information or engage in influence operations on behalf of foreign governments would be obliged to register, so that such activities would be made visible. The Japanese government plans to submit related legislation to the Diet, the country’s parliament, as early as next spring. It set up a panel of experts to discuss strengthening intelligence capabilities and presented a concrete plan for the registration system at a meeting last week. The government is examining the idea of obliging workers for consulting companies, think tanks and advertising agencies to register in advance if they contact public servants, disseminate information that may affect public offices elections, or provide monetary or other benefits. The government intends to penalize those who fail to register although they are required to, as well as registered individuals who falsify their identities or make threats. So far, the government has addressed the theft of classified information by foreign actors through the enactment of the law on the protection of specially designated secrets and the law on the protection and use of important economic security information. However, there is no law regulating acts aimed at exerting undue influence on politics and administration. Concerns have been raised that foreign agents may lobby for their countries’ interests without disclosing their identities, potentially influencing Japanese politicians, government officials and citizens. At last week’s expert panel meeting, the National Police Agency, which leads the system design, provided examples of influence operations without naming specific countries, saying that they were based on information obtained through investigations. In one case, a foreign agent tried to give benefits to Diet members through intermediaries for the purpose of establishing an educational institution in Japan, while in another, a foreign agent spread propaganda for the agent’s own country, according to the NPA. “Revealing investigative information on situations that have not been established as cases reflects a sense of crisis,” a government source said. Over the envisioned system, questions remain such as whether media workers and those acting on behalf of Japan’s ally should be subject to the mandatory registration rule and what penalties would be appropriate for violations. Japanese nationals may also fall under the category of “foreign agents.” If the definition is unclear, rules related to the system could be applied for political reasons. This could hinder individuals and organizations from expressing their opinions, threatening the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. In a written opinion released in February, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations expressed concern that the registration system “may lead to human rights violations.” During the expert panel meeting, some participants said that the scope of activities for which registration is mandatory should be made clear so as not to discourage legitimate activities. Participants are slated to discuss the scope of activities requiring registration and acts considered malicious at the next meeting in November. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
