Social Media in Japan: An Investigation of the Impact Social Media Has on Cyber-Security and Politics in Japan

Abstract

The advancement of technology and social media in East Asia, although innovative, has created an avenue for cyber-criminals to access information from individuals and corporations. Three of the most technologically and economically advanced nations in the world lie in East Asia and have a substantial amount of data in cyberspace. A large volume of sensitive and inadequately protected data is in this continuously growing cloud. This suggests the need for governments in the region to establish increased cyber-security legislation in order to protect national security interests. The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact social media has on cybersecurity and politics in East Asia with an emphasis on Japan. Research suggests that China and South Korea lead Japan in cyber-security; however, Japan is making great strides in effectively securing its cyberspace. With assistance from the United States and other NATO allies, Japan has the ability and means to create an optimal cyber-defense infrastructure that matches its technology innovations.