Japan Press Weekly

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2015 March 11 - 17 [POLITICS]

Gov’t approves bill to allow police wiretapping of citizens’ communications

The Abe Cabinet approval of bills to ease regulations on wiretapping by police and to revise the criminal procedure act has provoked public criticism because the bills could increase the extent of state surveillance on the general public and cause the creation of more false accusation cases.

The current wiretapping law allows law enforcement officers to use wiretaps in the investigation of four types of organized criminal activities, such as the illegal trade in drugs and firearms. The law also requires that wiretapping operations be monitored by telecommunication company employees.

The revised bill that the Abe Cabinet approved on March 13 will enable the police to authorize wiretapping to probe ordinary crimes, including theft and fraud, and will remove the provision requiring telecom carrier’s participation in wiretapping operations.

In the bill to revise the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Cabinet proposed introducing plea bargaining provisions in which the defendant will be able to obtain from the prosecutor a decision to dismiss charges or impose more lenient punishment in return for disclosing incriminating information about other people.

Later on that day, following the Cabinet approval, the presidents of 18 local bar associations, including the Saitama Bar Association, issued a joint statement in protest against the relaxation of restrictions on police wiretapping operations.

The statement points to the potential abuse of power by criminal investigation officers with the relaxation in restrictions to wiretapping operations, and calls for a thorough Diet discussion of the matter.

Meanwhile, the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren), the Japan Lawyers Association for Freedom, and a human rights organization took to the streets near JR Ochanomizu Station to increase public awareness of the Cabinet decision.

Distributing leaflets to passersby, participants in turn took the microphone and said that the revision of the wiretapping law will create a society where police can freely bug citizens’ conversations and text messages on mobile phones and other electronic communication devices.

Past related articles:
> Footsteps of war always come with secrecy, surveillance, and informants [February 16, 2015]
> Justice minister’s panel proposes ‘reform’ enabling police to bug citizens’ communications [October 16, 2014]