Key Facts
• August 2025: Government denies SNS censorship in a cabinet-approved statement.
• Over 10,000 deletion requests made for crimes and human rights violations.
• Breakdown: 814 for crime recruitment, 8,564 for fraud, 1,610 for human rights issues.
• July 2025: Politician Takuya Hirai mentions SNS account “removals” in a debate.
• Hirai’s comments linked to foreign election interference concerns.
• Opposition leader Sohei Kamiya questions potential organized control of online speech.
• Government clarifies Hirai’s remarks as personal, not representing official policy.
Summary
The Japanese government has denied allegations of controlling social media platforms, following comments by politician Takuya Hirai about “removing” certain accounts. In a cabinet-approved statement, the government clarified that Hirai’s remarks were personal and unrelated to official policy. The statement also revealed over 10,000 deletion requests made by government agencies, including 814 for crime recruitment, 8,564 for fraud, and 1,610 for human rights violations. These actions were conducted under legal frameworks. The issue arose after Hirai’s comments during a July 2025 debate, which raised concerns about foreign election interference and potential organized control of online speech. Opposition leader Sohei Kamiya criticized the remarks, suggesting they implied deliberate manipulation of online discourse. The government firmly denied such claims, emphasizing its commitment to lawful practices.
