TOKYO: People found guilty of cyberbullying in Japan now address a year in prison under rules implemented on Thursday (Jul 7), which were toughened up after the committing suicide of a reality superstar who had been trolled on-line.
Pink-haired professional wrestler Hana Kimura, a 22-year-old cast member of the particular hit Netflix series “Terrace House” died by suicide within 2020.
The particular revised legislation comes after a passionate campaign simply by her mother, and today imposes fines of up to 300, 000 yen (US$2, 200) or a year in jail – an increase through previous penalties of up to 10, 000 yen in fines or 30th days detention.
The beefed-up punishments are intended to make clear that cyberbullying is a criminal offence, said Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa.
“It is our belief that it’s important for us to work to remove spiteful insults that can push people to their deaths at times, ” he told a press conference on Tuesday.
Although the issue of cyberbullying had been raised within Japan before Kimura’s death, the wrestler’s suicide prompted domestic and international overview and put pressure on lawmakers to take action.
But some free speech advocates and lawful experts are opposed to the new rules and also have warned the government to ensure the tougher law is not really used to target free of charge speech and political criticism.
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