Artificial intelligence-generated images and videos must be clearly labelled under strict new rules governing social media use during Japanese elections.
The rules, approved by parliament, also ban internet users and tech platforms from spreading fake or distorted information about political candidates. The regulations will officially take effect ahead of upcoming campaigns.
Internal Affairs Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, whose ministry oversees national telecommunications, stated that the changes are vital to ensure the fairness of democratic elections.
The legislative push follows a series of high-profile political scandals. Local authorities previously flagged the heavy use of malicious AI deepfakes used to smear rivals during a leadership race for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and in subsequent parliamentary elections.
Unlike the digital regulations passed by the European Union, Japan’s new framework chooses not to impose financial penalties for non-compliance. Local media reports suggest Tokyo intentionally avoided heavy fines to prevent regulatory friction with major tech companies.
Instead of using legal penalties, the Japanese government plans to issue strict operational guidelines for social media platforms. Under this system, tech companies will be required to publish annual disclosures detailing how they handle political misinformation on their networks.
Government officials emphasised that the law was drafted carefully to maintain a strict balance between protecting free speech and securing the integrity of democratic elections.
