Japan Press Weekly

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2013 October 23 - 29 [POLITICS]

Secrets protection bill could criminalize news-gathering without gov’t permission

The government-proposed secrets protection bill states that it “will give full consideration to the freedom of reporting and news gathering”. However, a testimony made by a former chief of the intelligence unit of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces indicated the possibility that the freedom of the press would be restricted.

This testimony was given in July when he was under cross-examination in an appeal trial at the Sendai High Court of a citizens’ group demanding an end to the SDF’s monitoring of citizens’ movements.

Asked about what types of news gathering activities the unit observed, he said that the intelligence unit kept under surveillance all press activities other than those which have obtained prior permission from the SDF’s public relations section.

If that is to be the case under the planned secrets protection bill, reporters’ access to state information without receiving permission will be criminalized as an act seeking to obtain designated special secrets.

The JSDF Intelligence Security Command has a duty to protect state secrets regarding national security and prevent them from being leaked. The command monitored public movements when anti-Iraq war actions increased in 2003.

The SDF’s public monitoring record, the Japanese Communist Party obtained six years ago, also suggested the intelligence unit observed presspersons’ activities.