Communications minister Sanae Takaichi has mentioned the possibility that by invoking the Broadcast Law and the Radio Law, the government may order a radio or TV station to stop broadcasting if it repeatedly airs programs that run counter to political impartiality. Such an interpretation of the Broadcast Law could threaten freedom of expression and speech. Even if she was only referring to a hypothetical possibility, her statement could have an intimidating effect on broadcast media. Broadcasters should not respond by engaging in self-censorship.

In the Monday session of the Lower House Budget Committee, Takaichi, responding to a question from a Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker, said that Article 4 of the law, which lists various principles that broadcasters must follow, such as political neutrality and the upholding of truth, has a legally binding power in addition to being an ethical code. The Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization (BPO), a third-party body set up by the nation's broadcasters in 2003, has taken the position that the principles are ethical standards for broadcasters in producing their programs.

If Takaichi's interpretation prevails, it would be easy to imagine that the government would be tempted to use Article 4 as a legal tool to control the content of broadcast programs. The communications minister went on to say that if broadcasters that are judged to be politically partial do not mend their ways despite repeated warnings, the government cannot rule out punitive action under the law.