TOKYO, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) is suspected of collecting the personal information of thousands of university professors, nonprofit organization personnel, and others without their consent, raising public concerns over possible violations of citizens' privacy, local media reported.
According to a recent report by Japan's Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, the data were gathered by the Field Intelligence Unit, which operates under the GSDF's Central Intelligence Command.
The unit, comprising around 50 to 60 members, was established in 2007 and was originally tasked with gathering intelligence overseas. However, most of its personnel have in fact been engaged in collecting personal information on civilians within Japan.
The report said the unit compiled information such as photographs, academic and employment histories, and family circumstances of those under investigation into so-called "individual basic source data." The dossiers also included sections on assets and liabilities, daily spending habits, records of awards, disciplinary actions and criminal offenses, as well as assessments of the individuals' attitudes toward Japan and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and their ideological inclinations.
The data were reportedly stored and shared internally but were not registered or managed as official government documents.
Quoting a former member of the unit, the report said that the information was collected without the consent of the individuals concerned. It also noted that the legal basis and purpose of the information-gathering were not clearly explained, and that there were "no clear boundaries" regarding the methods used to obtain the information.
A university professor whose personal information had been collected said that although someone claiming to be an SDF member had previously approached him, he had never imagined that his personal information would be systematically collected, nor had he ever given his consent.
Responding to the report, Japan's Ministry of Defense said it was previously unaware of the matter and that "it will take time to verify the facts."
Sota Kimura, a constitutional law professor at Tokyo Metropolitan University, said the intended use of the collected information remains unclear and questioned whether sensitive personal data could be properly managed. He called for such activities to be brought under stricter regulation as soon as possible.
Yoshikata Onodera, a lawyer who has previously represented plaintiffs in lawsuits against the SDF's surveillance of citizens, said Japanese courts had already ruled that some of the SDF's surveillance activities violated individuals' privacy and were unlawful, adding that the government should promptly investigate whether the SDF is still systematically collecting personal information without individuals' consent. ■
