Japan police step up monitoring for potentially harmful internet information

Police in Japan are taking more steps to monitor internet posts that could lead to crimes.

The move follows revelations that a series of burglaries may have been committed by people who were recruited through social media posts. Those sites offer "high rewards" for people willing to do "shady part-time jobs."

On Wednesday, the National Police Agency expanded the range of online posts that it considers to be potentially harmful. When a harmful post is detected, the site operator will be asked to delete it. The agency took the step two weeks earlier than planned.

In addition to what appear to be job offers that involve robbery, murder and human trafficking, posts on how to make guns and explosives are now considered to be potentially harmful. This comes after the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo last year.

The cyber patrol center, commissioned by the National Police Agency, is tasked with monitoring the internet for suspicious posts that may contain code words, such as "tataki," a term for robbery.

Police officials also plan to accept tips from members of the public.

They are working to allay people's concerns in the wake of the burglaries that have occurred around the country.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230215_12/