OUR Japan Passes the first laws to prohibit photography or videotaping of scenes of sexual exploitation of other people without their consent.

The Voyeur Photography Bill criminalizes activities such as upskirt (taking photos without anyone’s knowledge or consent) and secretly recording sex acts.

So far, sex crime cases have been handled according to local laws, which vary greatly from county to county.

The bill, which is part of a broader reform of Japan’s sex crime laws, is expected to expand the definition of rape.

Among other things, the new law expressly prohibits the taking, possession or distribution of someone’s genitals without their consent. And it will criminalize the act of photographing people who are being unknowingly manipulated into sexual positions.

Violators face up to three years in prison or a fine of at least 3 million yen (about $22,000).

This legislative reform is expected to be voted on next month. This is the result of criticism and pressure from public opinion for stricter laws criminalizing acts committed with the help of technology and photos from mobile phones.

In 2021, the Japanese police conducted over 5,000 arrests for hidden photography – a record number and triple the number of such cases in 2010.

ABOUT seven out of 10 flight attendants in Japan reported being the victims of covert photography, according to an aviation union survey released in March.

Already, most mobile phone manufacturers in Japan have installed audible shutter sounds on their mobile devices to prevent hidden video recording.

Japan is considering making several changes to its penal code to tighten laws against sexual offenses after several acquittals in a rape case sparked a national outcry in 2019.

Source: BBC