A controversial Anti-terror Law has been enacted by Japan on Thursday, which led to the protests on street. The critics warned that the law would stomp on citizens’ privacy rights. The conspiracy bill was passed by the upper house of parliament.
The bill has been enacted to combat terrorism and other serious crimes. The opposition parties protested and concerns were raised by a United Nations expert, who called the legislation defective. The latest bill reduced the number of targeted crimes to some 270 offences and narrowed the definition of terrorist and criminal organisations.
Last month, the bill passed the more powerful lower house. Previously, the Japanese government had tried three times to pass a similar legislation, which officials say is needed to ratify a UN treaty.
Read more: Ramdev’s ‘beheading’ remark: Arrest warrant issued against yoga guru
The new law allows the investigators to take an action against an individual or organisation who conspires to engage in terrorism and other serious crimes. However, the rights groups including japan’s national bar association and other academics have opposed the bill. They said that it could be abused to allow wiretapping of innocent citizens, thus hindering their privacy.
Moreover, US surveillance Edward Snowden and Joseph Cannataci, UN special rapporteur on the right to privacy, have both criticised the law.
