New Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has instructed Digital Transformation (DX) Minister Masaaki Taira to speed up work on the “active cyber defense” bill. Given the scale of the proposed legislation and Ishiba’s friendliness towards Trump and the US war machine, the Japanese are concerned that it could mean communist-style public surveillance and a more militarized state.
Japan’s new pro-Western, military-expansionist prime minister is seeking to speed up the development of an “active cyber defense” system that will reportedly regularly “collect and analyze communications information from the private sector.”
Shigeru Ishiba’s main goals as prime minister included creating an Asian version of NATO, supporting the US government, and increasing Japan’s defensive and offensive capabilities despite the country’s constitutionally more peaceful past.
Ishiba teams up with Trump to push ‘active cyber defense’ bill
On Thursday afternoon (JST), major Japanese publication NHK reported that Prime Minister Ishiba had instructed the new AI-focused “Digital Transformation Minister” Masaaki Taira (Google translation) to “resume discussions in the expert group and speed up work.” to introduce the bill as soon as possible.”
The bill under consideration would focus on “active cyber defense” (能動的サイバー防御), and has been a hot topic of discussion since last summer. Controversy? It is reported that its purpose is to spy through private telecommunications companies even in peacetime, as well as provide the US government with the resulting data.
Actions may also include proactively “penetrating an attacker’s computer in order to neutralize it.” It is certainly frightening that the self-proclaimed “military fanatic” Ishiba might consider a threat, especially given his zealous support for Orwellian intelligence nightmares such as the CIA and Mossad, as well as lesser-known Japanese laws regarding alleged “conspiracy” against the state. .
This transfer of personal data to an intelligence and military powerhouse overseas is consistent with recent statements made following a phone call with President-elect Donald Trump. In his statements, Ishiba referred to taking U.S. government support to the next level by “strengthening the bilateral alliance… in terms of equipment and operations.”
Further exacerbating the public’s irritation is Tyra’s checkered past when it comes to transparency and alleged secret relationships with the Chinese Communist Party.
Tired Japanese are skeptical of Taira’s intentions
As DX Minister Masaaki prepares to fast-track the “active cyber defense” bill through state-level negotiations, the people who actually keep the country running – the Japanese living and working and trying to enjoy life on the archipelago – are tired of politics.
“Isn’t this choice shocking? It’s a joke that a pro-China man who hides his involvement in [Chinese politics] is developing a cybersecurity bill,” wrote one user on X. Another Japanese user responded that they had now changed their minds about the government’s vague and historically half-baked implementation of the “My Number” ID card, which Tyra had previously proposed to be used to ration supplies during emergencies.
The China controversy stems in part from a cryptic tweet Tyra posted last year in which he said he was going on a business trip but did not specify where. It subsequently emerged that he had been holding meetings in China.
Of course, diplomatic visits are nothing unusual, but some were concerned by the politician’s reticence, with one social media user asking: “Why does it seem like he’s sneaking around and not explicitly saying he’s going on a business trip?” to China? They continued: “I’m starting to lose my faith a little bit. If they have nothing to hide, shouldn’t they openly go to China and announce what they will do to the best of their ability?”
Further fueling speculation about a potential espionage law is Tyra’s 2022 speech entitled “The Digital Revolution and Japan-China Relations.”
What does this mean for cryptography?
Whatever the real story with China, the fragile Japanese yen, tourist-ravaged cities and poverty-line pensions for the country’s elderly raise the question of what proactive spying on the population would mean – at least in style CCP – and inflated military spending and aid to the US and Israel really help?
For most, and especially for fans of freedom of expression and free market technologies like cryptocurrency, the answer is nothing. For a growing militarized global surveillance state, this appears to be consistent with the goals of total control.
