Japan's digital minister flamed and shamed for using his smartphone in Parliament
(2023/11/29)
- Reference: 1701225069
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/11/29/japanese_digital_minister_googling/
- Source link:
Japan's digital minister, Taro Kono, faced a backlash on Monday after he attempted to use his smartphone to look up info during a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Councilors, contravening meeting rules.
Kono was not trying to hide his use of the smartphone, but rather [1]pulled his phone out after being asked a question about the identity of the foreign minister in March 2019.
"Let me check," replied Kono, before being reprimanded by the chair as if he had used his phone in a round of pub trivia.
[2]
The minister [3]addressed the matter in a press conference the next day.
[4]
[5]
"It was my mistake and I apologize for any inconvenience," admitted a chastened Kono.
[6]Japan's digital minister surrenders salary to say sorry for data leaks
[7]Country that still uses fax machines wants to lead the world on data standards at G7
[8]Japan to probe Google over 'suspicion' that antitrust laws are being broken
[9]Japan to citizens: Get a digital ID or health insurance gets harder
However, the minister also cheekily [10]retweeted a post to X/Twitter that stated "I expect Kono-san will respond with a 'get with the times' witty response in due course." That’s a reasonable assumption given the minister oversees the job of bringing a [11]reluctant Japan into the digital age.
The incident has [12]reportedly sparked a debate on whether smartphone use should be allowed in Japan’s parliament.
At present, tablets and laptops are allowed, but smartphones are thought to interfere with question-and-answer sessions.
[13]
Liberal Democratic Party House of Councilors secretary-general Hiroshige Seko suggested that if all parties agreed, the ban should be lifted. Others suggested adding rules around the device’s use. ®
Get our [14]Tech Resources
[1] https://twitter.com/cdp_kokkai/status/1729075509815046481
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZWbFcuRC7GQcs@QifcPQ5QAAAE4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://youtu.be/DLxEeopaddk?feature=shared&t=413
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZWbFcuRC7GQcs@QifcPQ5QAAAE4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZWbFcuRC7GQcs@QifcPQ5QAAAE4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2023/08/17/japanese_minister_offers_up_salary/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/15/japan_g7_data_standards/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/24/japan_google_antitrust_investigation/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/10/27/japan_digital_id_push/
[10] https://twitter.com/colecameron/status/1729050592444920173
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/15/japan_g7_data_standards/
[12] https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20231128/k10014270931000.html
[13] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZWbFcuRC7GQcs@QifcPQ5QAAAE4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Kono was not trying to hide his use of the smartphone, but rather [1]pulled his phone out after being asked a question about the identity of the foreign minister in March 2019.
"Let me check," replied Kono, before being reprimanded by the chair as if he had used his phone in a round of pub trivia.
[2]
The minister [3]addressed the matter in a press conference the next day.
[4]
[5]
"It was my mistake and I apologize for any inconvenience," admitted a chastened Kono.
[6]Japan's digital minister surrenders salary to say sorry for data leaks
[7]Country that still uses fax machines wants to lead the world on data standards at G7
[8]Japan to probe Google over 'suspicion' that antitrust laws are being broken
[9]Japan to citizens: Get a digital ID or health insurance gets harder
However, the minister also cheekily [10]retweeted a post to X/Twitter that stated "I expect Kono-san will respond with a 'get with the times' witty response in due course." That’s a reasonable assumption given the minister oversees the job of bringing a [11]reluctant Japan into the digital age.
The incident has [12]reportedly sparked a debate on whether smartphone use should be allowed in Japan’s parliament.
At present, tablets and laptops are allowed, but smartphones are thought to interfere with question-and-answer sessions.
[13]
Liberal Democratic Party House of Councilors secretary-general Hiroshige Seko suggested that if all parties agreed, the ban should be lifted. Others suggested adding rules around the device’s use. ®
Get our [14]Tech Resources
[1] https://twitter.com/cdp_kokkai/status/1729075509815046481
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZWbFcuRC7GQcs@QifcPQ5QAAAE4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://youtu.be/DLxEeopaddk?feature=shared&t=413
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZWbFcuRC7GQcs@QifcPQ5QAAAE4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZWbFcuRC7GQcs@QifcPQ5QAAAE4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2023/08/17/japanese_minister_offers_up_salary/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/15/japan_g7_data_standards/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/24/japan_google_antitrust_investigation/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/10/27/japan_digital_id_push/
[10] https://twitter.com/colecameron/status/1729050592444920173
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/15/japan_g7_data_standards/
[12] https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20231128/k10014270931000.html
[13] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZWbFcuRC7GQcs@QifcPQ5QAAAE4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The perceived difference between a tablet and a smartphone exists elsewhere here in Japan. Not just in the govt.
In a business meeting it is acceptable to poke at your laptop sitting in front of you or use a stylus (rather than a finger) to fiddle with a tablet.
But heaven forbid if you pull your smartphone out to accomplish the exact same task.
Likewise I was in a restaurant and was asked to put my tablet away and told that doing work in the restaurant was frowned upon (I was playing 2048).
When I cheekily pointed out -as us plucky foreigners are wont to- that the four people seated at the counter next to me were all using their smartphones, the restaurant owner shrugged and said smartphones for recreational use at the bar are ok.
It’s more about image and perception than actual reality.