The Lower House Internal Affairs and Communications Committee on May 25 railroaded a bill to establish a new Broadcast Law, and the bill is now before the Upper House's corresponding committee. The ruling parties should not pass the problematic bill. Instead they should put it to public discussions so that a better bill is developed.
The bill originally contained a clause that would strengthen the power of the Radio Regulatory Council, an advisory body for the internal affairs and communications minister, by allowing the council to examine important factors in broadcasting such as "contribution to the development of democracy," "neutrality" and "truthfulness" on its own and then present its opinions to the communications minister.
Opposition forces and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations argued that the wording of the clause is so vague that it could lead the council to interfere in broadcast content. These criticisms forced the ruling bloc to drop the clause before sending the bill to the Upper House.