Parties keen to lift Net campaign ban

The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Japan and New Komeito are angling toward ending the ban on election campaigning using the Internet, according to sources.
The three parties hope to submit an amendment to the Public Offices Election Law during the regular Diet session that convenes later this month, and plan to call on other opposition parties to support the move in an attempt to bring the bill into force from the next House of Representatives election.
The first step will center on allowing candidates and political parties to use Web sites during election campaigns.
Article 142 of the existing law states that the distribution of "documents," except for legally approved postcards, posters and election manifestos, is prohibited after official campaigning begins.
Items displayed on computer screens such as Web sites are considered to be distributed documents under the law, and candidates and political parties are prohibited from updating them during campaigns.
Should the ban be lifted, candidates and parties would be able inform voters of their election pledges, opinions and policies, not only in writing, but also with sound, video and graphics. Site content also could be updated in response to how a candidate is faring in polls.
Lifting the ban would enable voters to compare candidates' policies and messages at any given time.
The DPJ submitted legislation drafted by Diet members on the use of the Internet in election campaigns to the Diet for the fourth time in June 2006.
The submitted legislation would remove the ban on all Web sites, e-mails and blogs, and would require campaigners using the Internet to display their names and e-mail addresses. Punitive measures would be established for campaigners that violate the law.
The LDP's Research Commission on the Election System summarized the points under discussion in December, and the party decided to consider a specific plan regarding the lifting of the ban.
The party has no objection to allowing Internet-based campaigning, but believes that repealing the ban on e-mails or online and e-mail magazines could open the door for imposters to assume the name of candidates and send out messages purporting to be from the actual candidate.
New Komeito agrees on the need to tackle the issue of false Web sites, but is positive about the lifting of the ban.
(Jan. 7, 2008)