Cyberbullies face jail in Japan

Lawmakers have introduced stiff prison terms and higher fines for “online insults”

A law imposing strict punishment for online bullies has come into force in Japan, threatening one-year prison terms and larger fines for offenders. The rules were tightened years after the suicide of a popular TV star, who faced online harassment before her death, stoking calls for reform.

The legislation took effect across Japan on Thursday, with violators now facing fines of up to $2,200 and a year behind bars, significantly stronger than the previous maximum of around $75 and no more than 30 days of detention.

Passed in mid-June after the ruling Liberal Democratic party reached a deal with opposition lawmakers, the bill is set for review within three years of its enactment to determine whether it places undue restrictions on free speech. If such a determination is made, the law will be amended.

Read more

The toughened penalties for “online insults” come more than two years after the suicide of 22-year-old reality TV star and pro-wrestler Hana Kimura, who took her life in May 2020 after a wave of cyberbullying she received due to her performance on Netflix’s ‘Terrace House’ show. While the case drew international attention to Japan’s cyberbullying issues, two men found guilty of targeting Kimura online were given only minor fines.

In the wake of Kimura’s death, the legislative council of Japan’s Justice Ministry recommended stronger punishments to Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa, who told reporters earlier this week that the new framework demonstrates the “legal assessment that [cyberbullying] is a crime that should be severely dealt with, and acts as a deterrent.” Pushing back against critics who have slammed the law as draconian, the minister also argued the rules would not amount to “an unjustified restriction on freedom of expression.”