Summary of Minister Fujii’s Post-Cabinet Press Conference
Overview
The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications explained that guidelines for large platform operators under the amended Act on the Distribution of Information through Specified Telecommunications will be formulated before the Act takes effect, following public comments and in light of agreements reached by the multiparty council. On the draft Cabinet Order setting requirements for designation as a secondary capital, the Minister said the government would continue its review with reference to the Hiroshima governor’s views, and would hear from a broad range of stakeholders, including experts, when considering the basic policy and related matters.
Key points
- The guidelines will be formulated following public comments and based on agreements reached by the multiparty council.
- After the guidelines are formulated, large platform operators will be encouraged to implement mitigation measures appropriately and effectively.
- The designation requirements for a secondary capital will continue to be reviewed, taking the governor’s views into account.
- A broad range of views, including those of experts, will be heard when considering the basic policy for a secondary capital and related matters.
Overview
The Summary of Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Fujii’s Post-Cabinet Press Conference records the press conference held on October 13, 2026. There were no opening remarks, and the question-and-answer session addressed two policy issues.
Impact
The measures to be included in the guidelines aim to mitigate the adverse effects caused by the circulation of information that may harm the fairness of elections. The Minister explained that a basic principle would also be to avoid excessively chilling expressive activity in the relationship between the measures and freedom of expression.
Details
Guidelines will be formulated on measures that large platform operators should take under the amended Act on the Distribution of Information through Specified Telecommunications. Agreements reached by the multiparty council call for the guidelines to include specific examples, such as measures concerning monetization and responses to AI-generated content; the effectiveness of increasing information from highly reliable sources; and principles presented during Diet questioning. To prepare for the Act’s effective date, including allowing operators to prepare their responses, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will formulate the guidelines after public comments.
Regarding the draft Cabinet Order setting requirements for designation as a secondary capital, Hiroshima Governor Yokota conveyed the view that the criteria should allow flexibility, taking into account conditions in areas such as the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. The draft order is open for public comments, and the Minister said the government would continue its review with reference to the views received. In formulating the basic policy and related matters, the Minister said it would be necessary to take a broad regional perspective, beyond the areas that meet the designation requirements, and to hear from a wide range of stakeholders, including experts.