Japan Enacts New Law With Up to 1 Year in Prison Now for Online Abuse!

Online abuse is clearly a pretty huge problem. And, unfortunately, one that doesn’t seem to have a magic bullet solution either. – I mean, you only have to spend around 20 minutes in Call of Duty lobbies to see just how hideous some people can to each other thanks to the relative anonymity of the online world. – Even a relatively sensible conversation in a Facebook group these days can often decent into chaos!

It seems, however, that a high-profile suicide in Japan has led to the introduction of what may very well be some of the tersest laws around. – Following a report via TechSpot, if you’re now found to be engaging in online abuse in the country, you could potentially not just a significantly more substantial fine, but this may also include (in extreme cases) a year in prison!

Japan Introduced New (and Incredibly Terse) Online Abuse Laws

Based upon the original law, cases of online abuse in Japan was limited to a maximum fine of circa $75 and potentially up to 30 days in prison for more extreme cases. – Following the suicide of reality and wrestling star Hana Kimura, however, this led to a catalyst in the country for a significantly harder revision of their online abuse laws.

Under these new legal remits, the maximum penalty has now been extended to a fine of up to circa $2,200 and even, potentially, a year in prison! – A move which many believe should be considered on a much wider international scale!

Admittedly though, it is sad that it took a death for such a revision to take place. Additionally, it’s hard to ignore the significance of Hana Kimura in a country where wrestling (both WWE-style and Sumo) is taken exceptionally seriously! – Put bluntly, I doubt this law would’ve come into effect so quickly had this just been a ‘normal’ person. Non-celebritiese do, after all, regularly commit suicide and often in cases which have been influenced by online abuse.

What do you think though? Do you think your country should take a similar approach to online abuse? – Let us know in the comments!

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