THE MAINICHI DAILY NEWS — Jan 22 – Starting Feb. 1, Internet users wishing to join dating sites will have to prove they are 18 or over by sending a digital copy of their driver's license. The requirement is one part of the amended law that went into effect Dec. 1 of last year to regulate dating sites, and comes under the rules of the National Public Safety Commission. Should site operators fail to make the ID checks, authorities will issue a warning. If a site operator continues to ignore the new rules, he or she could face up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 1 million yen.
The full article was originally published at The Mainichi Daily News, but is no longer available.
Wow – any comment from anyone running a site in Japan?
R
Wow – any comment from anyone running a site in Japan?
R
Internet dating sites have a seriously bad reputation in Japan. Many older men use tardy idating services to lure young girls into underage dating relationships, hence the need for age verification.
Internet dating sites have a seriously bad reputation in Japan. Many older men use tardy idating services to lure young girls into underage dating relationships, hence the need for age verification.
Online Buddies, Inc. operates http://www.Manhunt.jp, a dating site for Japanese gay men. It’s not doing that well, and we won’t be operating it much longer, but that’s another issue. According to my Japanese speaking employees, only a small number of Japanese web site operators and a small number of their customers are complying with this new law. Like anyone else, the Japanese value their privacy on the internet, and this new law, passed without much prior public comment, is not going over well with internet users or providers. My employees tell me not to worry about the law, especially since our company is outside Japan. I hope they’re right.
Online Buddies, Inc. operates http://www.Manhunt.jp, a dating site for Japanese gay men. It’s not doing that well, and we won’t be operating it much longer, but that’s another issue. According to my Japanese speaking employees, only a small number of Japanese web site operators and a small number of their customers are complying with this new law. Like anyone else, the Japanese value their privacy on the internet, and this new law, passed without much prior public comment, is not going over well with internet users or providers. My employees tell me not to worry about the law, especially since our company is outside Japan. I hope they’re right.