Posting “online insults” will be punishable by up to a year in prison time in Japan starting Thursday, when a new law passed earlier this summer will go into effect.
People convicted of online insults can also be fined up to 300,000 yen (just over $2,200). Previously, the punishment was fewer than 30 days in prison and up to 10,000 yen ($75).
The law will be reexamined in three years to determine if it’s impacting freedom of expression — a concern raised by critics of the bill. Proponents said it was necessary to slow cyberbullying in the country
From the story on The Verge: Japan to start jailing people for online insults
Cyberbullying is a real issue, of course. But I’m not a big fan of governments enacting sweeping, yet vague laws that punish people for online behavior. It also doesn’t get anywhere close to addressing what prompts the cyberbullying to begin with. And call me crazy, but in 2022 I am not keen on any allegedly democratic government giving itself this kind of power.
At least our robot overlords are a long way off from being competent enough to take over.
