Crime Yamibaito: Japan police going undercover on social media

[thomas]

The NPA is considering using undercover officers to infiltrate dark gig networks. Often recruiting through social media, these networks involve individuals performing secretive, frequently illegal tasks. To combat this growing threat, police officers would apply for these dark gigs using fake identities and documents. By infiltrating these groups, the police hope to identify and disrupt criminal activities before they can be carried out.

Under normal circumstances, creating fake IDs would be considered forgery of official documents, a criminal offence. However, the Penal Code stipulates that such actions performed "in accordance with laws or legitimate duties are not punishable." The NPA has determined that illegality is negated in this case and is consulting with relevant government agencies. The agency plans to develop operational guidelines and implement the practice as early as next year, limiting its use exclusively to cases involving dark job-related crimes. Japanese police have previously carried out sting operations, in which investigators conceal their identities, but only in limited cases, such as drug investigations. However, undercover investigation methods, as envisioned for dark gig-related crimes, where investigators actively falsify their identities, have yet to be employed before.

Japan police mulling going undercover on social media to tackle rampant 'dark gig' crimes - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- In response to a string of burglaries mainly in the greater Tokyo area involving those working

mainichi.jp