October 4, 2024 “ Study Group on Addressing Issues related to Information Distribution in the Digital Space”

 The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will hold a “ Study Group on Addressing Issues related to Information Distribution in the Digital Space” to discuss how to deal with the various issues associated with the distribution of information in the digital space, including the institutional arrangegments.

1. Objective

 Illegal and harmful information, such as defamation, remains a serious situation in the digital space, and various issues have cropped up concerning the information distribution in the digital space, including new risks associated with the development of new technologies and services, such as generative AI and the distribution of digital advertising.
 Concerning distributing illegal and harmful information in the digital space, large-scale platform operators are obligated to take measures related to prompt removal requests and transparency of operation status, following the “Act on Measures Against Rights Infringement, etc. Arising from Distribution of Information by Specified Telecommunications (Act No. 137 of 2001, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Information Distribution Platform Act’)” as amended by the 213th Diet session. Further efforts, including the steady implementation of the Act, are expected.
 In light of the current situation, the “Study Group on Addressing Issues related to Information Distribution in the Digital Space” is established to discuss how to address the various issues associated with the distribution of information in the digital space, including the development of institutional arrangegments.

2. Items to consider

• 1.
  Matters related to the enforcement and implementation of the Information Distribution Platform Act
• 2.
  Matters related to the development of institutional arrangegments for information distribution in the digital space
• 3.
  Matters related to addressing various issues surrounding the distribution of digital advertising
• 4.
  Others

3. Schedule

 The first meeting is held on Thursday, October 10, 2024, followed by subsequent meetings.
 The meeting information will be posted on the MIC website.