Foreign Aid Groups Raise Concerns About Misinformation During Disaster Response

Japanese experts warn that foreign residents could face significant risks from online misinformation during disasters, highlighting a troubling pattern of xenophobia that emerges during crisis situations.

A government expert panel recently addressed this concern in its assessment of potential consequences should a major earthquake strike Tokyo. The panel expressed particular urgency about preventing the spread of false information on social media platforms during such emergencies.

Several panel members pointed to historical precedent, specifically the aftermath of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, when unfounded rumors claiming Koreans were committing robberies and arson led to widespread killings of Korean residents throughout Japan.

“We feel anxious about what will happen if a disaster occurs in the current atmosphere,” said Lee Yoomi, 46, chairperson of Multilingual Center Facil, a Kobe-based nonprofit organization. The NPO reports increasing concerns from local foreign residents about xenophobic online posts demanding “bad foreigners should get out of Japan.”

This sentiment isn’t merely speculative. During Japan’s Upper House election campaign in July 2022, false rumors circulated that foreigners were illegally receiving government assistance benefits, fueling anti-immigrant sentiment.

Lee, a third-generation Korean who founded Multilingual Center Facil after experiencing the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake as a junior high school student, recalls her father warning her to be careful to avoid false accusations of wrongdoing during that crisis.

The pattern repeated following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Kwak Kihwan, a sociology professor at Tohoku Gakuin University, conducted research in 2016 examining the situation of foreign nationals after that disaster. His survey of 770 Sendai residents revealed about half had heard rumors that foreign residents were committing crimes in disaster areas, with more than 80 percent believing these unsubstantiated claims.

Most recently, following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on New Year’s Day 2024, misinformation about “gatherings of foreign robbers” spread across social media platforms.

“In normal times, moral norms prevent people from suspecting someone without evidence. However, during disasters, that brake seems to fail when it comes to foreigners,” Kwak explained.

The rise in xenophobic posts comes at a particularly sensitive time as Japan has increasingly opened its doors to foreign workers to address critical labor shortages. These international workers play crucial roles in maintaining social welfare services and supporting economic growth amid Japan’s aging and shrinking population.

Experts note that in the event of the anticipated major Tokyo earthquake, foreign workers will be highly visible in essential roles, including at convenience stores serving as support points for those stranded and at nursing facilities functioning as evacuation centers.

Taro Tamura, representative of the Institute for Human Diversity Japan and adviser to the government’s Reconstruction Agency, recommends using disaster drills and community meetings as opportunities for relationship-building among residents regardless of nationality.

“Many foreigners are not just recipients of support, but they are among those providing it,” Tamura emphasized. “It is important to share and resolve each other’s concerns in normal times.”

Addressing misinformation presents significant challenges, according to Kensuke Kajiwara, associate professor at Kyushu University specializing in constitutional law. He notes the tension between combating false information and protecting freedom of speech.

“In consideration of freedom of speech, it may be difficult to require the deletion of such posts solely because they are false and stem from hatred,” Kajiwara said. While existing laws can punish posts that incite violence or constitute slander against foreigners, the enforcement process is often too slow to counter the rapid spread of misinformation on social media.

Kajiwara suggests that prompt fact-checking by central and local governments, directly addressing false claims on social media, would be an effective countermeasure during crisis situations.

As Japan prepares for potential natural disasters in an increasingly diverse society, experts emphasize that building community connections and trust during normal times remains the strongest defense against the spread of harmful rumors during emergencies.