Japan Diet OKs bill to allow online election campaign

Sabtu, 20 April 2013 01:07

(TOKYO-Kyodo) The Diet enacted a bill Friday to allow the use of Facebook, Twitter and other social networking websites in election campaigning, starting with this summer's upper house election.

The House of Councillors unanimously voted for lifting the ban on such online campaigning by revising the Public Office Election Law. The revision will also enable political parties and candidates to use e-mail to call for votes and liberalize the use of banner advertisement by parties to attract people to their websites.

The move is the latest effort by Japanese lawmakers to address people's apathy toward elections or politics, especially among youth, which has been demonstrated by low voter turnouts.

"This could lead to the creation of a political environment in which young voters and many others enhance their interest in politics," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

The bill was passed by the powerful House of Representatives earlier this month.

To prevent the abuse of online tools in campaigning, the revised law stipulates those who use false identities face imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 300,000 yen (about $3,000). It can also suspend the civil rights of perpetrators.

Internet service providers will be authorized to delete libelous comments within two days at the earliest, after agreeing with those who post them.

The new rules will be applied in both national and local elections.

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed on guidelines to prevent confusion at the introduction of new campaigning, obliging people making Web pages or blogs to show contact information and banning voters who received e-mails from candidates or parties from forwarding them.