The spirit of Japan¡¯s new state secrets law may officially be about protecting national security by restricting the release of information about defense and diplomacy, or keeping information needed to prevent terrorist attacks and ¡°specified harmful activities¡± confidential.
However, the new law, which took effect Dec. 10, is not just applicable to bureaucrats and major defense-related firms. Lawyers warn the letter of the law, and especially the required background checks on those handling state secrets, could impact a broad range of academic research as well.
The government had named 382 subject areas as state secrets requiring protection under the law.
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