Japan's Lower House Passes Economic Security Information Protection Bill
The Lower House of Japan's parliament passed a bill on April 9 that will require private-sector individuals to undergo government background checks for access to critical economic security information.
The bill, supported by both the ruling coalition and opposition parties, adds economic security as a fifth area covered by the Law on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets. This means more people in the private sector may be subject to security clearance checks.
The new system aims to protect sensitive economic information from foreign threats and facilitate participation in international research projects. However, concerns remain about the scope of information protected and potential restrictions on corporate activities.
The main opposition party, the CDP, supported the bill due to changing international dynamics and their desire to shed their image of simply opposing government policies. The Japanese Communist Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi voted against the bill.