Japan Internet Controls: we fear what we don't understand

As reported in the International Herald Tribune, the government of Japan is preposing to regulate "influential, widely read news-related sites as newspapers and broadcasting are now regulated."

This is interesting at two levels: Firstly, you may not have known the degree to which newspapers and broadcasting in Japan are regulated. Secondly, the government of Japan really doesn't know how to handle the internet.

For example, what is to stop someone from commenting on Japanese matters from outside Japan in a server hosted outside Japan. Even this blog qualifies as an externally hosted site, even though I post from Japan.

But the real insight here is that the Japan officialdom does not like criticism, and will use every tool at its disposal to stifle it. The code words are things like "we must not have confusion" or "we must preserve harmony." As much as those catch-phrases are red flags to the American ear, in Japan harmony is considered a virtue often trumping truth or honesty.

But then, I guess I'll know I've made it when regulators come knocking at my door!