Concern on National Intelligence Increases

The House of Representatives began discussion on the bill for establishing National Intelligence Council (NIC). Talking points are four: whether international environment requires higher intelligence to maintain national security, intervention in privacy of the people, including foreign agents in the objects of research and how to check the activities of the council. Although Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi insists that no new power will be vested on the council, concerns on expanded governmental power spread.

The bill is officially explained that it will enhance function of intelligence community, concerning growing demands for intelligence in complicated international relations. It envisions that upgrading current Cabinet Intelligence Council by vice-ministers into National Intelligence Council by ministers, and Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office by bureaucrats into National Intelligence Bureau with more staffs.

 

In the opening discussion at plenary sittings of the Lower House on April 2nd, Takaichi told that the government would be able to strengthen measures for strategically protecting safety of the people and national interest by decisions based on information with higher quality and timely manner. The government is going to issue basic strategy on intelligence to convince people necessity of the organization. The national council let each ministry submit information related to national security or terrorism.

 

The greatest concern for the people is how it affects their privacy. The council will collect information related to “important management of national politics.” This purpose of research may include private information of individuals, political organizations, or media. Takaichi insists that the bill will give the council no additional power on research. However, it is possible that the government erode freedom of knowledge by rejecting disclosure of some information in the context of protection of secrecy.

 

It is unclear how the collected information will be used. Information of opposition parties may be shared by ministries. There is no guarantee that an administration uses that information for its own political purposes. While opposition parties demanded some regulation against political use of information, Takaichi dismissed, arguing that no additional power will be given to the council.

 

The bill also includes activities of foreigners related to national security as purpose of researches of the council. It may be acceptable for the government to have research on foreign terrorists. However, terrorists cannot be limited to foreigners. There is a concern that international non-governmental organizations will be targeted. Takaichi government hopes to grapple with some “divisive issues” including establishment of Japanese version of Central Intelligence Agency and legislating anti-spy law.

 

The government does not agree to have a system to check activities of NIC or independent organization for checking. Both the United States and the United Kingdom have a committee in the congress to oversee intelligence community in the government. Japanese bureaucracy demands independent power for dealing with intelligence, ignoring a danger of discretional use of information by the government, which Japan experienced in the wartime over 80 years ago.

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