https://ryukyushimpo.jp/editorial/entry-1632283.html
The Ministry of Defense has reportedly begun research into using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to manipulate domestic public opinion on social networking sites.
If this were to be carried out, favorable information would be spread across the internet, potentially manipulating public opinion without the public's knowledge. This evokes the Imperial General Headquarters' manipulation of public opinion during the war. It violates the "freedom of expression" and "freedom of thought and conscience" guaranteed by the Japanese Constitution and is completely unacceptable.
The goal is to create trends online to spread support for defense policy, foster hostility toward specific countries in the event of an emergency, and dispel anti-war and war-weary sentiment among the public.
The Ministry of Defense's public opinion manipulation plan first involves using AI technology to collect and analyze the vast amounts of "big data" flooding social media, developing an overall plan that identifies appropriate targets for manipulation. It then identifies influencers who have a strong online presence and are likely to have influence on defense issues. Furthermore, the Ministry of Defense's information would be distributed to social media and websites frequently visited by these influencers, leading them to unconsciously share favorable information.
Once the Ministry of Defense has created the desired trend through manipulating influencers, it will repeatedly manipulate information on social media to ensure explosive spread.
The Ministry's efforts to manipulate public opinion while remaining hidden resemble "stealth marketing," a method of advertising disguised as a regular post. The ministry explains that "it's not illegal, just like a company's commercial techniques," but manipulating public opinion to the nation's advantage in the military, a sector that determines the nation's future, is unconstitutional.
According to Shinichi Yamaguchi, associate professor of economics at International University, people who overestimate their own ability to discern the truth of information actually have a lower ability to discern the truth of claims on current affairs. Furthermore, they are more likely to "like" and share fake content, especially when it comes to ideologies that align with their political views. Exploiting these characteristics may be able to change people's minds.
During the Pacific War, the Imperial General Headquarters spread false information to the public, which newspapers then reported verbatim. For example, after the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944, "non-existent military gains were compounded by the concealment of damage, and lies and nonsense began to be published" ("The Pacific War and Newspapers"). The military gains were reportedly inflated by 10.3 times for battleships and cruisers, 6.5 times for aircraft carriers, and approximately 7 times for aircraft.
During the Battle of Okinawa, the Okinawa Shimpo, formed by the merger of three newspapers, spewed false reports about the war situation and played a role in mobilizing the prefecture's residents for the battlefield. As a result of this manipulation of public opinion, one in four Okinawans was killed in the Battle of Okinawa.
Manipulating public opinion by the state is more harmful than beneficial. It is absolutely unacceptable.
by YamatoRyu2006