TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru suggested Tuesday that the government would consider establishing laws and regulations to tackle both misinformation and disinformation on the internet.

Speaking at the day’s plenary meeting of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, Ishiba said, “We will consider further measures, including laws and regulations, if necessary, while paying proper attention to freedom of expression.”

On the Lower House election held in October, Ishiba said that his ruling Liberal Democratic Party did not spend its policy activity expenses on the election’s campaign.

Some candidates who were unable to receive the LDP’s official endorsement in the election due to their involvement in the party’s political funds scandal were added to a group of the party’s Lower House lawmakers after the general election.

“This decision was made to ensure the smooth steering of Diet business,” Ishiba said.

He asked for the people’s understanding, saying, “The lawmakers have sincerely reflected (on what they did) and have faced public judgment in the election.”

Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) co-leader MAEHARA Seiji said that the country should ban donations by companies and organizations to political parties, arguing that the country is enabling “double dipping” of such donations and subsidies to political parties. Such subsidies were established to “replace” such donations, he said.

“It is not true that a ban on political donations from companies and organizations is a prerequisite to grant subsidies to political parties,” Ishiba said.

The prime minister reiterated his willingness to establish a law by the end of the year on disclosing the use of research, public relations and accommodation allowances paid to lawmakers and on returning any leftover allowances.

SAITO Tetsuo, head of Komeito, the LDP’s junior coalition partner, said that Japan should participate as an observer at a meeting of signatories to the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons to be held in March, like Germany has done in past meetings.

“We need to assess past cases,” Ishiba said.

On achieving gender equality, the prime minister said that the Japanese government will “continue to seriously consider” ratifying the optional protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

JIJI Press