The Japanese government has urged major social media operators to respond quickly to requests to remove false or misleading information related to the Feb 8 general election, stressing the importance of a fair election.

The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry made the request under the information distribution platform law that went into force last April obligating social media operators to take measures to deal with illegal and harmful information on the internet such as defamation.

Operators should “fulfill their social responsibility as service providers,” communications minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said in a statement, warning that misinformation could lead to malicious slander against candidates.

Hayashi also urged voters to “verify information rather than accepting it at face value.”

The Information Distribution Platform Act mandates large-scale platform operators to set up points of contact to hear requests for the deletion of harmful information, to disclose deletion standards as well as make swift decision on the requests. It includes penalties for violations.

Japan is holding its first House of Representatives election since October 2024. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house on Friday for a snap election, with official campaigning to start Tuesday.

© KYODO