Key Facts
• During the Upper House election, the government ran paid ads on social media.
• Ads promoted inflation countermeasures, displayed over 1.4 million times.
• Critics labeled the ads as “ruling party propaganda funded by taxes.”
• Ads linked to a Cabinet Office site featuring PM Shigeru Ishiba’s video.
• Government justified timing as coinciding with policy announcements.
• Cabinet Office did not disclose ad costs or decision-making process.
• Expert Kendo Yuasa raised concerns about election fairness.
• No laws regulate government ad content during elections, but self-restraint advised.
Summary
The Japanese government faced backlash for running paid social media ads promoting inflation countermeasures during the Upper House election. Critics argued the ads, viewed over 1.4 million times, served as taxpayer-funded promotion for the ruling party. The ads linked to a Cabinet Office site featuring Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba discussing policies. The government defended the timing, citing the release of key measures, but did not disclose costs. Experts, including Kendo Yuasa, warned the ads could undermine election fairness, despite no legal restrictions on such content. Calls for self-restraint in government advertising during elections have intensified.
