Name: Anonymous 2007-07-06 12:36 ID:tOH+h7px
Japan Diet members seem to be holding firm in the face of U.S. government demands to make possession of child pornography a crime in Japan. According to the U.S. Japan’s current Law for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and for Protecting Children possession of child pornography for the purpose of selling or supplying it crimes, without criminalizing possession for personal use.
Sources said that senior U.S. government officials met with Foreign Ministry executives and other Japanese government officials, along with influential lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party between April and May. U.S. government officials said “hundreds” of Japanese names were included in image purchase records in child pornography cases that have been uncovered by U.S. investigative authorities.
U.S. government officials explained that current laws in Japan which do not ban mere possession of child pornography are creating a market for such material.
Japan and Russia are the only G-8 member countries where personal possession of child pornography is not a crime.
In an interview with the Mainichi, U.S. government officials said there was a “huge contradiction” in Japan, where it is illegal to sell child pornography, but it is legal to buy it.
“This legal loophole creates a massive demand for these images,” an official said.
Though there are voices in the Japanese Diet that are calling for criminalization of child porn possession, others are resisting “over fears that this will lead to the abuse of authorities’ investigative powers.”
Sources said that senior U.S. government officials met with Foreign Ministry executives and other Japanese government officials, along with influential lawmakers from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party between April and May. U.S. government officials said “hundreds” of Japanese names were included in image purchase records in child pornography cases that have been uncovered by U.S. investigative authorities.
U.S. government officials explained that current laws in Japan which do not ban mere possession of child pornography are creating a market for such material.
Japan and Russia are the only G-8 member countries where personal possession of child pornography is not a crime.
In an interview with the Mainichi, U.S. government officials said there was a “huge contradiction” in Japan, where it is illegal to sell child pornography, but it is legal to buy it.
“This legal loophole creates a massive demand for these images,” an official said.
Though there are voices in the Japanese Diet that are calling for criminalization of child porn possession, others are resisting “over fears that this will lead to the abuse of authorities’ investigative powers.”