Overview

• Hyogo Prefecture published a draft rule on Aug. 18 to address online slander, privacy violations, and human-rights abuses, declaring non-harassment a civic responsibility.
• The proposal empowers the governor to ask SNS operators to remove discriminatory posts on behalf of victims, and allows direct requests for posts that name specific regions or groups.
• Removal authority is confined to “unjust discrimination” based on attributes such as race, sex, disability, or gender identity, reflecting officials’ caution about judging individual rights.
• Victims would be guided through takedown and poster-identification steps under the Information Distribution Platform Response Law and referred to specialists via a consultation system.
• Public comments will precede a bill the prefecture aims to submit in December, with enforcement targeted for January 2026 after debate accelerated following last year’s gubernatorial election harassment.