A Ground Self-Defense Force intelligence unit systematically collected and stored personal information on civilians, including their political beliefs, sexual preferences and romantic relationships, Kyoto Shimbun reported in an editorial, calling the practice a violation of the Personal Information Protection Law.
The unit, known as the Genchi Joho-tai, or on-site intelligence unit, is based at Camp Asaka in Saitama Prefecture. It used improper methods, including concealing members' identities, the newspaper said. The Defense Ministry and the Self-Defense Forces have deflected questions in the Diet.
A unit built for overseas deployments
The unit was established in 2007, after intelligence gathering on local security conditions proved difficult during the Self-Defense Forces' deployment for the Iraq War. It has about 50 members, with countries in Africa and Asia assigned among them, according to former unit members interviewed by Kyodo News.
Members approached Japanese researchers and residents of the assigned countries working in Japan. They gathered local information and also collected personal data, which they entered into reports. The reports contained 41 items, including addresses, phone numbers, feelings toward Japan and the Self-Defense Forces, sexual preferences and financial circumstances.
The reports were stored systematically but were not treated as official documents. The unit called contact with civilians "sales" and set a quota of twice a month. Members submitted plans to superiors in advance for approval. They had a stamp affixed to an attached sheet, then destroyed the sheet so the material would not become an official record, according to the newspaper.
A professor's complaint
The unit screened out people seen as anti-Self-Defense Forces in order to cultivate cooperators, the newspaper said. A professor at a national university who was approached by a member said he was given no explanation of the purpose and had not consented. "It feels really unpleasant," he said.
A previous court case has already tested similar conduct. Citizens monitored by the Self-Defense Forces' intelligence-preservation unit for opposing the Iraq deployment sued the state. A high court ruling, since finalized, found it illegal for the unit to collect their real names and workplaces without disclosing the collection.
The current case came to light in a scoop by the Kumamoto Nichi Nichi Shimbun. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has repeated in press conferences and Diet answers that "no inappropriate activity has been confirmed" and has not acknowledged that the reports exist.
If he genuinely does not know, the situation undermines civilian control of the military, the newspaper said. If he is covering up while aware of illegality, it will breed public distrust of politics and security administration. The editorial also voiced concern that legislation against espionage promoted by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government could strengthen such activity.
The government should investigate the reported activity and the reports themselves, the newspaper said, and set out a control framework consistent with laws on personal information protection and official document management.