Japan Plans Social Media Age Checks via Carrier Data

In this Reclaim The Net article, Ken Macon reports that Japan is considering social media age-verification measures that could rely on mobile carrier data, raising major privacy concerns about tying legal-name phone accounts to online activity.

• Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications convened an expert panel that released draft measures on June 2 aimed at reducing young people’s dependency on social media.
• The proposal does not go as far as Australia’s under-16 social media ban, partly because Japan’s panel argues social media is too embedded in daily communication to wall off entirely by age.
• Instead, the government wants social media platforms and mobile carriers to explore “feasible” age-verification technologies.
• One floated method would use data already held by mobile carriers, since Japanese customers verify their identity when signing up for phone service.
• Reclaim The Net warns that this could create a verified link between a person’s legal identity, phone account, and social media use.
• The article argues that identity data collected for one purpose—mobile service—could be repurposed into a broader online surveillance mechanism.
• Platforms currently rely largely on self-reported age information, but the proposed direction would move toward stricter proof-based verification.
• The draft proposal is entering public comment before expected finalization this summer.
• The article frames Japan’s move as part of a broader global trend, citing Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, France, Greece, Denmark, and G7 discussions around age assurance.
• Public support in Japan appears limited, with the article citing polling that found only 38% of parents and 28% of Gen Z support an under-16 ban.

Read the full story:
https://reclaimthenet.org/japan-plans-social-media-age-checks-via-carrier-data