Japan launches centralised intelligence agency amid concerns

Tokyo (ANTARA) - Japan launched its new centralised intelligence agency on Friday, according to local media reports, a controversial move that has triggered concerns among some parties due to a perceived lack of checks and balances in the form of monitoring mechanisms.

The formation of the national intelligence bureau, which is an expansion of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office that previously held very limited authority, follows the enactment of legislation in May to establish a national intelligence council, Kyodo News reported.

Kazuya Hara, who has served as the Cabinet’s intelligence director since June 2023 and has held several senior positions within the National Police Agency, officially assumed the role of director of the bureau on Friday, according to the report.

The bureau will function as the secretariat for the council, a central command body headed by the Prime Minister and composed of key ministers. It will coordinate intelligence collected by the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and several other organisations, with the authority to mandate that they share information, the report added.

According to government sources, the council is expected to hold its first meeting today to begin discussions regarding Japan’s first national intelligence strategy.

The increase in intelligence activity has sparked fears regarding heightened surveillance of citizens and potential government misuse, as well as questions regarding whether the agencies can remain politically neutral and whether the planned legislation might infringe upon public privacy.

Critics oppose the move, arguing that it not only raises concerns regarding unnecessary breaches of personal information and privacy but also strengthens the agency’s authority without an accompanying system of checks and balances in the form of monitoring mechanisms.