Crime Yamibaito: Japan police going undercover on social media

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.

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