Japan ranks among the most free and open countries in the world in terms of digital rights and Internet access.
Yet an increasing number of people, including a United Nations official, have recently warned that this high degree of technological freedom to disseminate one's opinions and views is offset by growing concerns over official and unofficial restrictions on freedom of expression and fears that the Japanese public may not be inclined to aggressively defend such freedom.
In fact, the lack of eagerness on the part of citizens to defend their rights could give the government leeway to control more of their electronic communications in the name of cybersecurity, according to one expert.