Police in April started to increase cooperation with Internet service providers (ISPs) to help contain the distribution of child pornography in and from Japan. Long criticized for not taking strict enough measures, Japan needs to do more to stop access and control distribution of child pornography.

Because of lax regulation in the past, Japan has been seen as an online haven for child pornographers. Some surveys by Interpol suggest that a very large percentage of the world's child pornography has been distributed through Japan.

Part of the weakness is in getting Japan-based ISPs to help curtail sharing of such materials. The latest step by the police in cooperation with ISPs will make a dent in such online sharing.