Japan Plans Foreign Agent Registry, Penalties

Japan’s government wants people acting at the direction of foreign governments to register with authorities, and it’s considering criminal penalties for some forms of influence activity. The proposal would extend the state’s reach beyond protecting confidential information to monitoring people and organizations engaged in political influence work.

A Wider Intelligence Apparatus

The government presented its outline to an expert panel on Oct. 26. It plans to submit a bill to the ordinary Diet session in 2027, after the National Police Agency drafts legislation based on the panel’s deliberations and other input.

This is the first detailed outline of the anti-espionage-related legal framework pledged in the coalition agreement between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party). Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seeking stronger intelligence gathering and analysis. The government says covert operations to influence public opinion and policymaking have become an urgent concern, including in Japan.

Existing laws, including the Law on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets, cover espionage aimed at stealing confidential information. Officials say no law regulates influence operations. The proposed registry would press consultants and advertising agencies working for foreign interests to provide greater transparency, while the panel expects further meetings to determine who must register and what activities they must report.

The National Police Agency outlined three kinds of interference: approaching politicians or officials to influence policy; spreading information to sway public opinion or elections; and offering financial benefits to influence government decisions. In each case, the proposal puts the state in the position of deciding which activity crosses the line and which people must disclose their work.

Penalties Before the Lines Are Settled

The government is weighing criminal penalties for egregious foreign interference, including intimidation. It’s also considering penalties for carrying out specified activities without registering and for registered agents who engage in malicious conduct. Examples under discussion include concealing one’s identity when approaching politicians or officials and threatening someone to make them cooperate.

Officials haven’t settled which specific conduct would draw punishment. The scope of covered activity, penalties for noncompliance and transparency measures are also still under discussion. A central question remains: how far would the state’s new rules reach into political work and public communication?

The Japan Times reported the proposed law could cover political consultants, think tank researchers and advertising-agency employees advancing a foreign state’s interests. Some participants called for a strict definition of who must register, warning that an overly broad rule could discourage legitimate academic exchange and news reporting. According to sources, no objections were raised at the Oct. 26 panel meeting to the government’s policy direction.

Rights and Oversight Still at Issue

Experts are expected to compile recommendations by the end of 2026 on the legal framework and a National Intelligence Strategy, a medium- to long-term government policy for intelligence activities. In July 2026, the government established the National Intelligence Council as a command hub and the National Intelligence Bureau for operational matters.

Concerns have surfaced in the Diet and elsewhere that intelligence operations could unjustifiably infringe on citizens’ human rights. Experts said that expanding intelligence capabilities would require safeguards, including democratic oversight of intelligence agencies. The government is also weighing systems used in the United States, Britain and France as reference points.

Takaichi called the new intelligence bodies “only the first step” and is considering further measures to strengthen intelligence capabilities. The proposed registry, its penalties and the boundaries of covered activity remain under discussion; the state’s plans are moving forward while those limits are still being written.