Executive Summary

  • Japan weighs age-based filtering on social media to combat addiction

Strategic Deep-Dive

This move by Japan aligns with the “Online Safety Act” initiatives being pursued in the UK and certain states in the US. This can be interpreted as the proliferation of “Digital Paternalism,” wherein governments intervene in the traditionally “free internet” space, once dominated by Silicon Valley, under the guise of “public order” and “protectionism.” Should Japan codify these regulations into law, it would represent the most robust technology regulatory model in Asia and is expected to exert a significant influence on the digital policies of neighboring countries, including South Korea. Companies now face pressure to completely overhaul their algorithm design principles, which were previously focused on maximizing profits, to align with new regulatory guidelines centered around “social safety.”