Japan to Mull Uses, Curbs for Social Media in Elections

   Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)--Japanese ruling and opposition parties will consider utilizing and restricting the use of social media in elections after witnessing its significant impact on voters' behavior in recent races.
   While social media can be used to target independent voters with tailored information, many politicians see a need for tighter regulations on defamation.
   Discussions among political parties are likely to intensify ahead of big polls next year such as the election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan's parliament, and the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election.
   "The use of social media is clearly spreading in everyday life," Tatsuo Fukuda, executive acting secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, told a press conference Monday. "We should actively use it to communicate our policies and political stances."
   In the Nov. 17 Hyogo gubernatorial election, Motohiko Saito secured re-election on the back of support from social media users. In Sunday's Nagoya mayoral election, Ichiro Hirosawa's camp utilized social media to defeat by a landslide former Upper House lawmaker Kohei Otsuka, who was endorsed by four parties including the LDP and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.

(2024/11/25-23:06)

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