84% of Japanese People Worried About Impact of Fake News on Elections via SNS

"88% Respond That Strengthening Fact-Checking Is Necessary"
"63% Say Influencers' SNS Activities Have a Significantly Negative Impact"

Eight out of ten Japanese people are concerned about the impact of false information distributed through social networking services (SNS) on voting, according to a recent survey.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported on April 28 that, based on a mail-in public opinion survey conducted from March 10 to April 16, 84% of the 2,012 respondents said they were worried about the influence of fake information on SNS affecting voting.

Saito Motohiko, the governor of Hyogo Prefecture who stepped down amid a 'gapjil controversy,' won again in the election held in November last year shortly after his resignation, marking his return. The background to this comeback is attributed to campaign videos and conspiracy theories spread through social media. Governor Saito Motohiko of Hyogo Prefecture. Saito's X account.

Additionally, 88% of respondents said that there is a need to strengthen fact-checking to verify the authenticity of posted information.

Regarding the influence of highly influential SNS users (influencers) on voting, 63% responded that they have a "significantly negative impact," 21% said "no particular impact," and 12% said "significantly positive impact," indicating that negative perceptions are more prevalent.

In Japan, since last year, election campaigns using SNS have drawn attention for producing unexpected results. In particular, the background to the comeback of Saito Motohiko, governor of Hyogo Prefecture, who stepped down amid a gapjil controversy and then won again in the election held in November last year shortly after his resignation, is attributed to campaign videos and conspiracy theories spread through social media.

Previously, in the Tokyo gubernatorial election in July last year, Shinji Ishimaru, the former mayor of Akitakata in Hiroshima Prefecture, who did not receive support from established parties, created a sensation by using SNS-based campaigning to surpass the main opposition party’s candidate and finish in second place.

In response, Japanese political circles are discussing strengthening regulations on the use of SNS in connection with elections. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is reportedly planning to issue an interim report on SNS countermeasures ahead of the House of Councillors (upper house) election and the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election scheduled for this summer.