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Today Japan held the election for the House of Councillors of the National Diet, and popular mangaka Ken Akamatsu managed to win a seat.

Published on July 10, 2022 Giuseppe Nelva

Home News Love Hina Mangaka Ken Akamatsu Elected to Japans House of CouncillorsAfter Campaigning for Creators Freedom of Expression

Today Japan held the election for the House of Councillors, the upper house of the National Diet, and popular mangaka Ken Akamatsu managed to win a seat.

Akamatsu-sensei, who debuted as a professional mangaka all the way back in 1993 with Hito Natsu no Kids Game, is mostly known for Love Hina, the romantic comedy serialized on Kodanshas Weekly Shounen Magazine between 1998 and 2001, which sparked an anime series, several OVAs, light novels, and even video games.

In todays election, he ran with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party following a campaign mostly centered on protecting creators freedom of expression, artistic freedom from censorship and undue external influences.

Akamatsu-sensei is the first manga artist elected to the Japanese National Diet and announced his victory on Twitter, mentioning that he will work hard to fulfill his promises not to betray his voters.

He ran for the election within the national proportional representation block, which is a nationwide district that elects 50 members per election by single non-transferable vote.

In a blog post published just before the election, Akamatsu-sensei mentioned that he has been drawing manga for 28 years, and at times he received comments like Ken Akamatsus manga saved my heart, which have been a great motivating force for him.

As a matter of fact, he himself was supported by many manga since he was a child. Anime helped him when he was having a hard time during exams, and video games helped him when he was struggling with work.

Akamatsu-sensei continued by mentioning that he truly believes that it is because of manga, anime, and video games that he has managed to make it this far.

He is sure that many have had the same experience at least once, and when people are sad or suffering the work of many creators has the power to help them.

He is now determined to pursue the following two points:

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Love Hina Mangaka Ken Akamatsu Elected to Japan's House of Councillors After Campaigning for Creators' Freedom of Expression - Twinfinite

Nadine Dorries will be able to censor theinternet unless new powers intendedto make techgiants more accountable are reformed, MPs have warned.

The Online Safety Bill must be overhauled so that the Culture Secretaryand her successors cannot order the industry regulator Ofcom to take downcontent before anassessment by Parliament, the MPs said.

In its current form the bill would allow Ms Dorries to directly intervene in Ofcom's decisions over what to block or permit online by making changes to its code of practice.

Julian Knight, the chairman of the digital, culture media and sport select committee, said: "A free media depends on ensuring the regulator is free from the threat of day-to-day interference from the executive.

"The government will still have an important role in setting the direction of travel, but Ofcom must not be constantly peering over its shoulder answering to the whims of a backseat-driving secretary of state.

The recommendations come as Ofcom is poised to inherit new powers to grapple with tech companies and social media apps by putting senior managers in jail or dishing out multi-billion pound fines worth up to 10pc of annual turnover if illegal or harmful content to children is found on their websites.

However, the bill has faced fierce scrutiny from news publishers over fears it could muzzle free speech without stronger exemptions for journalism.

Ms Dorries has already promised an accelerated appeals process for news providers whose stories are removed by tech companies, while exempting publishers from fines for false or harmful content.

Excerpt from:
Nadine Dorries 'will have power to censor the internet' - The Telegraph

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that she intends to trial censorship zones around abortion clinics in Scotland.

Speaking at a summit on abortion in Edinburgh, the First Minister backed MSP Gillian Mackays Bill seeking to create 150m buffer zones around hospitals and abortion centres.

In similar zones in other countries, people have been prevented from handing out pro-life literature, offering prayer, and speaking to women about abortion. Sturgeon acknowledged that such a law in Scotland could be subject to legal challenge.

The First Minister admitted she couldnt force councils to trial such measures, but the leader of Glasgow City Council has indicated she wishes to introduce them in the city with Government backing. Edinburgh has also expressed interest in being on of the test councils.

Sturgeon said we live in a democracy and people are free to have different views on abortion, but added that women should not be able to be informed of these views near abortion clinics.

She is opposed by one of her own MSPs, John Mason, who has said he is not convinced there is a problem. Mason pointed out that some women want to know they have a choice not to abort.

He told the BBC that people who say they are being coerced into abortions and are not being given the pros and cons need to be listened to.

Last September, Womens Health Minister Maree Todd told abortion activists that Scotland-wide buffer zones were not on the cards. But earlier this month, Nicola Sturgeon informed Holyrood she now backed legislating for censorship zones.

The summit came days after the US Supreme Court overturned its 1973 ruling on Roe v Wade, returning the law on abortion back to the elected representatives in each of the 50 states. The ruling sparked a furious reaction among pro-abortionists.

A Christian pregnancy centre in Colorado, Life Choices, was set on fire and painted with the words: If abortions arent safe, neither are you.And in Arizona, the police used tear gas on pro-abortion protesters vandalising the states Capitol building.

Breaking: Roe v Wade overturned

Abortions hit another record high in England and Wales

Sturgeon now backing zones to restrict pro-life help

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Abortion 'censorship zones' to be trialled in Scotland - The Christian Institute

TEL AVIV, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research released today by Hola has highlighted concerns amongst internet users in countries with some of the most restricted web access in the world, that the need for web tools to access online content is going to grow in the next 12 months. The study, carried out by the leading market research firm Vanson Bourne on behalf of Hola, gathered insights from 2000 internet users across China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and United Arab Emirates (UAE), and found 82% of users believe the need for web content tools will increase in the next year. 93% of respondents in China believe the need will increase in their region, and this comes as internet censorship in China will continue to expand.

Citizens surveyed across these regions are struggling to gain access to basic resources that many outside of those regions take for granted. The research revealed that those with limited access to web content are struggling to access educational information and resources (43%) and online news (29%). When it comes to overcoming the growing challenge of internet censorship, citizens in those territories most impacted by restrictions overwhelmingly believe technology providers should be doing more to make online content accessible. 97% of those asked believe this to be the case and nearly all respondents in China (99%) think technology providers should be doing more in this area.

Web content tools are becoming increasingly important as censorship grows and users look to bypass local restrictions. The findings show 92% of respondents that use web content unlocking tools to access online content believe they are important to enable this access. 95% of internet users that have limited access to online content already use web content tools to access restricted material. Some online tools can be expensive and therefore not accessible for all users, making free tools that allow a gateway to web content a necessity. When it comes to free-to-use tools, 80% of respondents would consider using free technology tools to be able to access online content.

The internet was created to be a global borderless resource that benefits us all, but due to geopolitical interferences, it is becoming increasingly closed off in certain regions, and we must all work together to fight back against this, explained Avi Raz Cohen, Holas General Manager. As we can see in the findings, users are struggling to gain access to educational material and online news content, amongst other things, and this is simply unacceptable. We agree with users in those regions that technology companies should be doing more to address this and one key weapon in this battle is free web content tools that help unlock blocked content. We are proud to provide free VPN technology and web tools that unlock online content and help bypass restrictions. One thing is certain - well do all we can to support citizens around the world as they push for borderless online freedom.

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82% Of Internet Users in Countries With Some of the World's Harshest Internet Censorship Regulations Expect the Need for Web Access Tools to Grow in...

MANILA, Philippines The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is gravely concerned over the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)s move to block public access to websites of several organizations tagged as affiliated with communist groups.

The CHR expresses grave concern on the move of the NTC based on the request of the National Security Council, to block access to the websites of organizations designated by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), as well as those said to be affiliates who also have alleged links to terrorists and terrorist organizations, CHR Executive Director Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a press statement.

In an order dated June 8 and released last June 22, the NTC directed internet service providers to block public access to over 20 websites of alternative media outfits, academic publishers, and activist groups which were identified by the ATC as supposedly linked with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army-National Democratic Front.

The order was issued upon the request of former national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon.

De Guia said the NTCs move curtails the peoples right to access accurate information which allows them to make informed decisions and participate in different affairs, including governance.

We caution against censorship or any move similar to it, which harms press freedom and results in a chilling effect that attempts to deter free speech and liberty of association under a democracy, De Guia added.

In a separate development, the CHR also expressed concern over the decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revoke the operating license of online media outfit, Rappler.

CHR, as the countrys independent national human rights institution, continues to stress the importance of the peoples right to information and to free speech, expression, and association. As long as an individuals exercise of right is not in violation of the law or the rights of others, any form of curtailment is undue and unjust, De Guia said.

Democracy thrives on the free exchange of ideas, including dissent and opposing opinions, that allows everyone to participate in shaping laws and policies for the general welfare of the people, she said.

In its order dated June 28, the SEC has upheld its Jan. 11, 2018 decision ordering the shutdown and revocation of the certificate of incorporation of Rappler Holdings Corp. (RHC) and its online arm Rappler.

The SEC reiterated its earlier position that RHC violated the constitutional and statutory restrictions against foreign equity on mass media when it issued Philippine Depository Receipts (PDRs) which granted the foreign firm Omidyar Network control over a local media organization.

Rappler, however, can still file a motion for reconsideration on the SECs order and continue its operations while the appeal is pending.

The CHR appealed to the new administration to always uphold human rights, including the rights to dissent and free speech.

Rappler said it has appealed the shutdown order and is ready to bring to the Supreme Court (SC), if necessary, the SEC decision affirming its earlier order revoking the online news sites certificates of incorporation.

In an interview with The Chiefs on Cignal TVs One News channel last Wednesday night, Rapplers chief legal counsel Francis Lim said they asked the Court of Appeals (CA) to overturn SECs decision ordering the shutdown of the media organization.

The order of the SEC is not immediately final and executory. Under the rules, we have 15 days to question this order of the SEC with the Court of Appeals, Lim said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Lim said among the issues that they would raise to the appellate court is SECs supposed violation of their right to due process.

We were not given due process. They should have taken our side, we should have been given the chance to explain that the donation (of Omidyars PDRs) cured everything, he said. Janvic Mateo, Cecille Suerte Felipe

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CHR alarmed over NTC censorship of websites - Philstar.com