The ruling Liberal Democratic Party reportedly approved a government proposal on Thursday that could require telecommunications companies to retain users’ communication histories in an effort to combat a sharp rise in fraud through social media.

The proposal, presented at the meeting of the LDP’s special committee on cybercrime, calls for a legal framework that would obligate telecom operators to store communication records for a fixed period, NHK said. The move is aimed at strengthening police investigations, which are often hampered by inconsistent data retention practices across providers.

The LDP’s move adds political momentum to a broader fraud prevention strategy that the government is expected to formalize in the coming weeks. A Cabinet meeting to revise the current anti-fraud framework is anticipated as early as next week.

The proposal also reportedly includes potential legal measures for apps such as Signal and Telegram with encrypted communication features, which are frequently used by fraud groups due to their high levels of secrecy. Officials are considering new legislation that would allow for faster access to app data, taking cues from regulatory models in other countries, NHK said.

Another aspect of the proposal is enabling the use of police-controlled decoy bank accounts under fictitious names to bait criminal networks and facilitate arrests, NHK said.

The measures reflect the recommendations the committee previously submitted to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

According to the National Police Agency, fraud cases have continued to rise, with more than 20,000 incidents reported in 2024 and losses reaching approximately ¥72.2 billion, the highest since 2014.

Authorities are also concerned with the rapid growth of scams conducted via social media, including investment and romance frauds. These social media-based schemes accounted for over 10,000 cases and ¥126.8 billion in losses in 2024, more than double the previous year’s figures.

Officials warn that such crimes are increasingly carried out by loosely connected, anonymous criminal groups, often with links to organized crime. These networks provide funding, recruit perpetrators and are digitally savvy, making detection and disruption more difficult.