Japan's 2013 State Secrecy Act – The Abe Administration's Threat to News Reporting 2013

Abstract

The “Specially Designated Secrets Protection Law” poses a severe threat to news reporting and press freedom in Japan. Government officials have not shied away from intimidating reporters in the past. The new law will grant them greater power to do so. Passage of the law fulfills a longstanding government objective to gain additional leverage over the news media. The new law could have a withering effect on news reporting and thus on the people's knowledge of the actions of their government.