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Japan Refused To Help NSA Tap Asia's Internet

An anonymous reader writes "The NSA sought the Japanese government's cooperation to wiretap fiber-optic cables carrying phone and data across the Asia-Pacific region but the request was rejected. The NSA wanted to intercept personal information including Internet activity and phone calls passing through Japan from Asia including China. The Japanese government refused because it was illegal and would need to involve a massive number of private sector workers. Article 35 of the Japanese Constitution protects against illegal search and seizure."

4 of 375 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why does Japan's constitution prevent surveilla by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Do the Americans just not care?

    It's more than just wiretapping. Look up civil forfeiture.

    IDK what the problem is, if it's just apathy, we have day to day life too good, or what. But we are the epitome of good people who do nothing. We are now just looking for the ultimate evil to triumph over us and just make it official.

  2. Re:envy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I am a foreign immigrant in Japan - and I am being treated very well.
    Furthermore - I completed my studies in Japan - both undergrad and graduate - and all of it was funded by Japanese government, including the airline tickets. And all of it was without any strings attached, and without the need to return the money I have been given (and you can make a nice living only on the scholarship...)...
    People are treating me, and my friends, really nice. Guess it might depend - if you are from some country that is trying to be a world policeman - you might get a different experience...

  3. Re:envy by JanneM · · Score: 5, Informative

    Have you tried to settle permanently in Japan and get the citizenship? It is almost impossible unless you have Japanese roots.

    No, it's quite easy. I have permanent residency, and plenty of people do become Japanese citizens, without any "roots" to Japan other than what you develop by living here.

    You might want to check this blog/information site about naturalization in Japan, written by a former US citizen whow is now Japanese: http://www.turning-japanese.info/ Specifically this post about naturalizing without being ethnically or racially japanese: http://www.turning-japanese.info/2013/03/does-one-get-japanese-citizenship-by.html

    --
    Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
  4. Re:envy by havill · · Score: 5, Informative

    Have you tried to settle permanently in Japan and get the citizenship? It is almost impossible unless you have Japanese roots

    As a matter of fact yes I have and I did it. And I have zero Japanese roots (I am a white born-in-America lived there for 20 years former U.S. citizen native English speaker).
    Six requirements (simplifying for the sake of the comment; there are exceptions to the below where it's in fact looser/easier than the below) to be Japanese:

    1. Be an adult (defined as 20 years or older)
    2. Don't be likely to become a welfare case (have a modest, stable source of income w/ an education & Japanese language level high enough that it allows you can to get/keep a job that will allow you to eat and put a roof over your head). You do not need to be rich or even well off or perfectly fluent.
    3. Don't have a criminal record, overseas or domestically, and have no immigration problems (overstaying, etc)
    4. Don't have any ties to organized crime or terrorism (domestic or overseas)
    5. Live in Japan for five years continuously (not on-and-off) and legally (no immigration blemishes)
    6. Legally get rid of your other nationalities (if the other country/countries will allow it)... either before (if country will allow it) or after within two years.

    It took about five months for me to gather the paperwork and four months for them to approve me. And it is free. Permanent Residency is not a prerequisite, nor is Japanese "roots" (you can be single with no connection).