Kyoko Kimura, her mother, expressed relief that the new law had been passed.
“The current law did not work as a deterrent and is irrational,” he said. “My overwhelming feeling now is ‘Finally!’”
He warned, however, that the new law “is not the end” of the problem.
“It really is just the beginning,” he said. “How the punishments will be imposed will depend on the behavior of each of us.”
Japan has seen a sharp rise in incidents of cyberbullying and cyberbullying, with experts suggesting that people find it difficult to criticize and offend behind the anonymity of social media posts. There are also concerns about growing intolerance of diversity, which means that anyone who breaks conservative social norms can very quickly become a target.
However, the new law was not universally accepted, with some opposition politicians and the Japan Bar Association saying the changes could restrict the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression.
Others say the rules are too vague, with one lawyer pointing out that an absurd comment posted on the internet saying the prime minister was “stupid” could lead to prosecution.
