The government said Thursday it will promote the use of filtering software against what it judges to be harmful information over the Internet, in a bid to prevent such incidents as group suicides and production of explosives via Internet use.

At the same time, the government will also map out procedures and criteria for police to encourage voluntary efforts by Internet service providers to address the problem, as well as urge them to disclose information on the senders of messages on planned suicides.

It will also try to educate people about the dangers of "harmful online information," and enhance consultation services about it, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda said.

As to the filtering software, the government will promote research into ways in which it can be made compatible with cellular phones and moving images.

A government task force compiled the steps after an explosion earlier this month at a high school in Yamaguchi Prefecture, in which a youth allegedly got information on the Web on how to make a homemade bomb.

Hosoda, the top government spokesman, denied that such measures will infringe on the constitutional freedom of expression.

"It is impossible to conceive that (this action) would affect areas that would touch upon freedom of expression, nor should it do so," he said.