Key Facts
• In 2025, election year with House of Councillors and Miyagi gubernatorial elections, SNS misinformation surged.
• Incumbent Governor Murai won sixth term by about 16,000 votes over Wada, supported by Sanseitō.
• Murai described the election as unprecedented, with rampant SNS misinformation and slander.
• During the campaign, images labeling Murai as “traitorous” and “wrongdoer” circulated.
• NPO Mediage, led by Yoshitaka Urushida, detected extreme misinformation affecting election outcomes.
• Mediage verified SNS claims about Murai, listing “misinformation” and “open to interpretation” online.
• Example: Claims Murai welcomed mega solar projects were debunked based on prefectural statements and taxation.
• JX Press CEO Katsuyo Yoneshige noted half-true misinformation spreads most effectively.
• Murai’s retracted plan for burial grounds still triggered SNS criticism during election.
• Candidate Masamune Wada faced misinformation on his foreigner policies.
• Murai plans a fact-checking system involving external opinions to counter future misinformation.
• Wada, after losing, joined Sanseitō in December, condemns misinformation but distinguishes it from policy criticism.
• Experts advise voters to consciously distance from unverified SNS information to avoid manipulation.
• Voters urged to verify candidate policies through diverse media amid SNS information overload.
Summary
The 2025 election year in Miyagi highlighted significant challenges posed by misinformation spread on social networking services (SNS). Incumbent Governor Murai narrowly secured a sixth term amid a campaign marked by widespread slander and false information, including accusations of being “traitorous.” The NPO Mediage took initiative to fact-check and publicly clarify misleading claims, such as those about Murai’s stance on mega solar projects. Experts from JX Press explained that misinformation blending truth and falsehood tends to spread most widely. Both Murai and challenger Wada experienced SNS-driven misinformation, complicating public discourse. In response, Murai is considering establishing a fact-checking framework involving external stakeholders to mitigate future misinformation. Wada, now a Sanseitō member, stresses the importance of distinguishing between misinformation and legitimate policy criticism. Given the overwhelming volume of SNS content, experts recommend voters maintain a critical distance from unverified information and seek diverse media sources to make informed decisions. This approach aims to foster a healthier democratic process amid the evolving digital landscape.
