Japan's parliament on Monday passed legislation making "online insults" punishable by imprisonment amid rising public concern over cyberbullying sparked by the suicide of a reality television star who had faced social media abuse.

Under the amendment to the country's penal code -- set to take effect later this summer -- offenders convicted of online insults can be jailed for up to one year, or fined 300,000 yen (about $2,200).
It's a significant increase from the existing punishments of detention for fewer than 30 days and a fine of up to 10,000 yen ($75).
The bill proved controversial in the country, with opponents arguing it could impede free speech and criticism of those in power. However, supporters said the tougher legislation was needed to crack down on cyberbullying and online harassment.
It was only passed after a provision was added, ordering the law be re-examined three years after it goes into effect to gauge its impact on freedom of expression.
Under Japan's penal code, insults are defined as publicly demeaning someone's social standing without referring to specific facts about them or a specific action, according to a spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice. The crime is different to defamation, defined as publicly demeaning someone while pointing to specific facts.
Both are punishable under the law.
Seiho Cho, a Japan-based criminal lawyer, warned that the revised law gave no classification of what constitutes an insult.
"There needs to be a guideline that makes a distinction on what qualifies as an insult," Cho said. "For example, at the moment, even if someone calls the leader of Japan an idiot, then maybe under the revised law that could be classed as an insult."

The issue of online harassment has gained prominence in the past few years, with growing calls for anti-cyberbullying laws after the death of professional wrestler and reality television star Hana Kimura.
Kimura, 22, who was known for her role in the Netflix show "Terrace House," died by suicide in 2020. The news triggered grief and shock nationwide, with many pointing to online abuse she had received from social media users in the months leading up to her death.

Another woke fool in power

If this happened in nigeria, 90% of the population of a certain people would live the rest of their lives incacerated in jail like their supreme leader.
The remaining 10% are externally displaced hermaphrodites around the world.
Imagine the peace and sanity that would return to our cyber space and our National image as a country

Yamiriflathead:
If this happened in nigeria, 90% of the population of a certain people would live the rest of their lives incacerated in jail like their supreme leader.
The remaining 10% are externally displaced hermaphrodites around the world.
Imagine the peace and sanity that would return to our cyber space and our National image as a country

Coming from someone who dedicated the entireity of his username to insult a certain tribe.

postbmd:
Another woke fool in power

You are the dumbo here..
With your nonsense that shouldn't be allowed in the first place.. people like you should be in a treatment home..

Yamiriflathead:
If this happened in nigeria, 90% of the population of a certain people would live the rest of their lives incacerated in jail like their supreme leader.
The remaining 10% are externally displaced hermaphrodites around the world.
Imagine the peace and sanity that would return to our cyber space and our National image as a country

you would be the first victim. look at your username.

FERNANDEZISBACK:

You are the dumbo here..
With your nonsense that shouldn't be allowed in the first place.. people like you should be in a treatment home..

you're actually the blockhead here.

Just because you want to prove an useless point, you stressed your self to edit all that shit?.

Lazy girl.

FERNANDEZISBACK:
.

you are becoming childish day by day.

FERNANDEZISBACK:

'woa' on you.

FERNANDEZISBACK:

You are the dumbo here..
With your nonsense that shouldn't be allowed in the first place.. people like you should be in a treatment home..

From all the gist forum that usually post link to a login page looking for face book logins mumu

FERNANDEZISBACK:

mumu tactics is old like ur brain, ur mummy don buy u recharge card shey. Fool with click bait blog

Haakeem:
'woa' on you.

postbmd:
mumu tactics is old like ur brain, ur mummy don buy u recharge card shey. Fool with click bait blog

Go get a life and stop posting gibberish on here..
Dumbo with his dry nonsense..

FERNANDEZISBACK:

Go get a life and stop posting gibberish on here..
Dumbo with his dry nonsense..

look who is talking 1k post n all u do is insult u no get sense i swear.

postbmd:
look who is talking 1k post n all u do is insult u no get sense i swear.

Shut up and think before ya speak..or did ya not read the nonsense you said up there?

FERNANDEZISBACK:

Shut up and think before ya speak..or did ya not read the nonsense you said up there?

Yh den read this n show ur mother

Just because of the death of one man now, they are making stupid law. All this politicians are hypocrite, I swear

[quote author=FERNANDEZISBACK post=114562871][/quote]

You can try to educate a fool like FERNANDEZISBACK, but you cannot never make him think like a wise being

Same soon to be APPLIED in Nigeria!

FERNANDEZISBACK:

ode that's all u know u come online acting like u know how to insult, thats d best u got, cheap brains with thick fingers.

postbmd:
ode that's all u know u come online acting like u know how to insult, thats d best u got, cheap brains with thick fingers.

Next time don't troll like a dumbo..if you misbehave..I will flag all your links and posts down..pls don't take it as a joke.. enjoy..

FERNANDEZISBACK:

Next time don't troll like a dumbo..if you misbehave..I will flag all your links and posts down..pls don't take it as a joke.. enjoy..

Hahaha see d zombie flag ur worm brain down unlink it from the source u getting ur thought, it's stinks of failure n regret thats y u come online to troll people fool is what u are a fool u will always be come rain come sun shine

If they do that in Nigeria....

Peter Obi will win from the prison population alone.