In Japan, anti-foreigner fake news drives far-right gains
Viral lies about foreign crime are fuelling political division in a country desperate for workers, analysts say
The trend is reportedly deepening divisions within Japanese society and creating a feedback loop that experts say will be difficult to break.
In August, Constella Security Japan, a Tokyo-based cybersecurity firm commissioned by the government to counter online disinformation, hosted a webinar for officials and media on fake news targeting foreign residents.
Among the cases highlighted were viral social media clips titled “metal theft by foreigners” and “stealing metal from railway tracks” claiming to show migrants cutting railway cables. The videos had racked up roughly 4.3 million views across various platforms by mid-September, Kyodo News reported.
