Japan adopts amended law to get ‘defamatory’ social media content removed swiftly

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Japan on Friday enacted an amended law that would require social media giants such as Facebook and X to swiftly remove "defamatory" content from their platforms.

The revised provider liability limitation law mandates social media platform operators to set up points of contact for accepting deletion requests and disclose criteria for removing posts, among other measures, Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.

Previously, the House of Councilors approved legislation aimed at facilitating the prompt removal of defamatory content on social media platforms with greater transparency, following its approval by the House of Representatives on April 19.

The amended law will take effect within a year, it added.

It will also require social media companies to notify netizens before removing their content.

Meanwhile, Japanese lawmakers also enacted new legislation requiring the government to establish a "security clearance" for economic reasons.

Under the new law, the government can notify critical information as “classified on economic security grounds to prevent leaks to overseas entities” that can undermine the country’s national security.