Combating Disinformation An Agenda For U S Japan Cooperation Jstor

Report by Christopher B. Johnstone and Leah Klaas Excerpt: “Disinformation and other forms of ‘information operations’ have become tools of choice for authoritarian regimes seeking to coerce and influence adversaries in the gray zone below the threshold of military conflict. As Japan’s National Security Strategy notes, ‘Grey zone situations over territories, cross-border cyberattacks on critical civilian infrastructures, and information warfare through the spread of disinformation, are constantly taking place, thereby further blurring the boundary... It examines tools and methods for combating disinformation and seeks to chart an agenda for deeper collaboration between the United States and Japan in addressing this growing challenge.” The Erosion of US Leadership and the Rise of Disinformation: A Call for International Collaboration

The resurgence of the Trump administration in 2025, coupled with Elon Musk’s influence over online platforms, has drastically altered the landscape of disinformation. Their dismantling of pre-existing countermeasures, fueled by a rhetoric of "free speech absolutism," has created a vacuum in global leadership against this rising tide of manipulated information. This shift is particularly concerning given the accelerating advancements in generative AI, which further amplify the potential for creating and disseminating convincing, yet fabricated, content. Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to abandon fact-checking on Meta platforms, mirroring Musk’s skepticism of established media and governmental involvement in content moderation on X (formerly Twitter), underscores the growing challenge of combating false narratives. This laissez-faire approach to online information, while presented under the guise of promoting open discourse, effectively empowers purveyors of disinformation and erodes public trust in credible sources. The implications of this US policy reversal are far-reaching.

Private sector actors, fearing accusations of censorship, are likely to soften their stance against disinformation. Civil society organizations, previously instrumental in debunking false narratives, face increasing difficulty in navigating this new environment. Internationally, the US retreat from its traditional leadership role complicates collaborative efforts to counter disinformation. This situation undoubtedly benefits adversarial nations like Russia and China, who actively engage in information warfare to destabilize democracies and advance their geopolitical agendas. The weakening of US counter-disinformation efforts creates fertile ground for their manipulative tactics to flourish, potentially undermining democratic processes and eroding public trust in institutions. Japan’s Awakening to the Disinformation Threat: From Natural Disasters to Geopolitical Tensions

Japan, traditionally somewhat insulated from foreign disinformation campaigns due to its language barrier and historical reliance on trusted media sources, has experienced a rude awakening. The proliferation of mis- and disinformation during recent natural disasters, such as the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, highlighted the vulnerability of the Japanese information ecosystem. The spread of false rumors, manipulated images, and deepfakes severely hampered disaster relief efforts and sowed confusion among affected populations. Furthermore, foreign disinformation campaigns surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station’s treated water release demonstrated the potential for external actors to exploit sensitive issues and manipulate public perception. China’s strategic use of inflammatory language, branding the treated water as "nuclear-contaminated wastewater," exemplifies the power of disinformation to damage international reputations and fuel geopolitical tensions. Professor in the Faculty of Sociology of Toyo University in Tokyo

Senior Social Scientist at the RAND Corporation In our 21st century information age security does not start with weapons or with the armed forces who wield them. A range of non-traditional security issues has arisen to test even the oldest and closest of alliances—including that of the United States and Japan. Disinformation is among these issues, and this paper series, carried out with the generous support of the US Embassy Tokyo, highlights the specific challenges that disinformation presents. The good news is that Japan, at least so far, is not demonstrating exceptionally high difficulties with disinformation so far. However, as the paper by Prof.

Morihiro Ogasahara demonstrates, there are specific demographics and specific types of news consumers in the country who are vulnerable, and Dr. Christopher Paul’s findings indicate that Japan could very well find itself under a more sustained attack by adversaries wishing to weaken its relationship with the US in the future. We at Pacific Forum hope that these papers serve as a wakeup call for policymakers, and lead to proactive solutions not only for this alliance, but which may be modeled for US relationships throughout... 我々が生きる21世紀の情報化時代における安全保障は、兵器やそれを用いる軍から始まるものではない。さまざまな非伝統的な安全保障問題が、日本と米国を含む最も古く緊密な同盟関係さえも脅かすようになっている。偽情報はこうした問題のひとつであり、米国大使館からの支援を受けて実施された本論文集は、偽情報がもたらす具体的な課題に焦点を当てている。朗報としては、少なくともこれまでのところ、日本が偽情報に対して特別に高い困難性を示していないことである。しかし、小笠原盛浩教授の論文が示すように、日本には特定の脆弱な層や、特定タイプのニュースを消費する層が存在する。また、クリストファー・ポール博士の調査結果は、日本が将来、米国との関係を弱体化させようと試みる敵対勢力から、より継続的な攻撃を受ける可能性があることを示唆している。私たちパシフィック・フォーラムは、これらの論文が政策立案者への警鐘となると共に、日米同盟に限らず、この地域全体における米国と他国の関係性のモデルとなるような、積極的な解決策につながることを願っている。 This Issues and Insights special report was funded by a grant from the United States Department of State. The opinions, findings and conclusions stated herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.

Disinformation Operations: A Growing Threat in the Indo-Pacific The Indo-Pacific region is facing an escalating threat from disinformation operations, primarily driven by authoritarian regimes seeking to manipulate information and exert influence in the strategically vital region. These operations, often conducted below the threshold of traditional military conflict, blur the lines between peacetime and conflict, creating instability and challenging the rules-based international order. Disinformation, defined as the deliberate spread of false or misleading information, has become a powerful tool in this gray zone warfare, undermining trust in democratic institutions, manipulating public opinion, and fueling societal divisions. This report delves into the complex disinformation landscape of the Indo-Pacific, focusing on the activities of China and Russia, and explores strategies for countering these malicious campaigns, emphasizing the crucial need for enhanced cooperation... China’s Disinformation Apparatus and Its Regional Impact

China’s disinformation campaigns are particularly concerning due to the country’s increasing assertiveness in the region and its sophisticated propaganda apparatus. These campaigns often leverage state-controlled media, social media platforms, and covert online influence operations to spread narratives favorable to Beijing’s geopolitical ambitions and discredit opposing viewpoints. Targets range from territorial disputes in the South China Sea to Taiwan’s sovereignty, and extend to broader issues like human rights and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chinese Communist Party’s tight control over information flows within its borders, coupled with its expanding global media presence, enables it to effectively disseminate disinformation and shape international perceptions. This poses a significant challenge to democratic values and regional stability. Russia’s Disinformation Activities and Synergies with China

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