Snowden “Japan Files”

2017 June 10th Chris

After September 11th,(in)2001, the NSA (National Security Agency) put up a slogan “Collect it all” and started antiterrorism measures. I translated the dialogue between Mr. Ikegami who is a well-known journalist in Japan and Mr. Takeda, a NHK staff member in the program called “Close-up Gendai Plus”

Through the files we obtained this time, we’re(getting to know)becoming aware of the possibility that Japanese taxpayer’s money was used to collect all sorts of information for espionage activities.

Mr. Ikegami:This is quite new information. It is understood that The American military presence is supposed to defend Japan (in our understanding). We take it for granted that we share the cost of the American military presence, on the other hand, we were surprised that it (was used)has been used in this way and it turned out to be used in the Afghanistan War as a result (This part is unclear Chris – is it surprising that the American military was used in Afghanistan, or intelligence gathered about Japan was used? Please clarify). Isn’t (it)this becoming a big problem? What is the process leading to Japanese expenditure like? Ithinkaccountability is necessary.

We’re getting to know the possibility that Japan has been monitored even if it’s one of the allied countries.

Mr. I: We trusted America because it’s an ally, but we feel like we are being betrayed. Especially the previous Snowden file revealed that they had been tapping the Chancellor Merkel’s telephone conversation. Germany and European countries protested against America. Japan should take a determined attitude and protest against the U.S.

They often explain that they collect all sorts of information(because of)for information gathering activities, antiterrorism measures and security measures. How do we accept the fact that they’reused for other purposes? As in the meeting of International Whaling Commission(=IWC).

Mr. I: America built this system in order to gather information in the former Soviet Union, China and North Korea during the Cold War. However, all sorts of information has been aroundever since the Cold War was over. It was discussed in the U.S. that they should take advantage of this system for the national interest. They say they are forwarding all sorts of information (of)about many places to a lot of relevant government authorities in America. It has (become)been revealed for the first time that this is the way they had gathered information as we can see in the IWC meeting.

The general public tends to be convinced (of)by the explanation that this is for antiterrorism measures.

Mr. I: We can somehow(get)be convinced if gathering information is for antiterrorism measures, but it is actually used in this way(should this be a question Chris? is it actually used in this way?). In other words, the U.S. that is supposed to be an ally has abused information against Japan’s national interests. This is really astonishing. We should protest against America appropriately.

On the other hand, domestically the Japanese government rarely criticizes the NSA’s information gathering activities. If the IOC meeting case is the truth, there’s something we can’t overlook. How do you feel about this?

Mr. I:The Japanese government has a weak point in this regard. America is capable of collecting an overwhelming amount of information and providing Japan with favorable part of it, while Japan seldom has anything to offer to the U.S. If Japan (stays)remains in the position of needing to be informed, it’s hard to protest against America. That’s why Japan needs to build proper information gathering system on our own, I think.

Mr. Takeda: There needs to be constraints to(if) we do so, right?

Mr. I:That’s quite right. We need such a system to check if it’s working properly, for example, like the Diet(consisting of lawmakers – don’t need) keeps an eye on it) performing a supervisory role. Japan has had an exclusively defensive oriented policy. For this reason, it’s like a weak rabbit have long ears to sense the danger. Japan needs to be a rabbit with such long ears, I think.So, as a weak rabbit has long ears to sense danger, Japan needs to have a stronger information gathering system. (When you use a metaphor like this it is ok to just mention it once. It sounds simplistic to repeat the metaphor in the second half of the sentence. I know you are translating here – a good example of where a sentence won’t translate perfectly if you use a direct translation)

What do you think about the significance of the former NSA contractor Snowden’s accusation?

Mr. I: It’s been said that American intelligence (agency has)agencies have been gathering all sorts of information, but they’re overdoing it beyond my imagination. We’re living in the digital society (with wide-spread Internet – don’t need) and it is really shocking that things have gone too far.

Snowden (left)sent a message that Japan is a wonderful country where people value privacy. How do you take this message?

Mr. I:It is not until a whistle-blower like him appears that exercising rights excessively can get revealed in public. The Panama Papers is a recent example in a sense that whistle-blowing can make it possible for things to get revealed in public. After the Panama Papers (was)wereexposed, (the) journalists around the world started covering the story. How rich people had evaded taxes turned out to be in public. That is, we journalists have to cover the story from this point on. I wonder if Snowden threw down (the)a challenge to us. That’s the way I have takenit.

Naturally there should be a discussion about (it could be discussed that) how far they’re allowed to go tocollect all sorts of information related to privacy for security measures

Mr. I:Once a person in power acquires a means of gathering information, he might feel like collecting it all. For example, there is N-system regarding roads information by the police. It has become possible to read any kinds of number plateson cars. If you can gather information by correspondence and emails, you might feel tempted to collect it all. Conversely the ordinary citizen must observe what they do. You might say, “Unless our representatives, lawmakers establish our surveillance system, the situation might escalate for the worse.”

We weren’t able to confirm if they had provided Japan with XKEYSCORE. People might think,“If we suspect we’re being watched by any chance, the society might shrink(what do you mean by shrink – to get smaller? A little unclear).”

Mr. I:That’s absolutely possible. According to the Wiretapping Law, you can’t monitor telephone conversation without the judge’s warrant, but at the same time, there is a word “government monitoring”, so that administrative agencies can intercept on a daily basis. There are people who feel tempted to tap if possible. You might feel like you’re being watched at all hours and everything about you is known tothe government agencies. You might get nervous and daunted. You might get shrunk and the democracy might shrink. We’re in danger of facing that reality.(Again you need to think about how you use the two words here – they don’t really make sense – democracy shrinking is ok .. but you might get shrunk is strange)

Mr. Takeda: Therefore, it’s time we discussed how to deal with security and privacy, isn’t it?

Mr. I: I do think so. It’s high time to start the discussion.

Questions:

  1. The U.S. takes advantage of Japan for espionage activities. What do you think about this? (20minutes)
  2. The U.S (considers) believes they need to keep Japan under surveillance. How do you feel about this? (20minutes)
  3. Reportedly the NSA in the U.S. has provided Japan with a mass surveillance system called “XKEYSCORE”, also known as “Google of Spy”. What do you think about this? (20minutes)
  4. Would you like to see the film “Snowden” directed by Oliver Stone?(including question 1,2 and 3)

For reference

Snowden leaks include Japan's security information

It has been revealed that information related to Japan's national security was included in the confidential documents disclosed by former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. In 2013, Snowden disclosed that the NSA had been secretly collecting a massive amount of data through leading communications and Internet firms. The data included personal phone calls and emails. Snowden later sought asylum in Russia.

The US Internet media publication The Intercept, which controls the leaked information, began releasing 13 files related to Japan on Monday.A 2004 document shows that Japan shouldered almost all the construction costs of a communications equipment manufacturing facility at the US Yokota Air Force base in Tokyo.It says the equipment produced at the facility was used by the United States to gather information around the world.The document says it is note-worthy that the surveillance antennas were used to support strikes on the Al-Qaedaterrorist group in Afghanistan.Another document referred to the 1983 downing of a South Korean passenger plane off Sakhalin.The document says the US wanted copies of audio tapes intercepted by Japan's Self Defense Forces from Soviet military aircraft. The US wanted to pursue the responsibility of the Soviet Union. The document also explains how the audio data was brought to the United Nations.The 2013 document also shows that the NSA provided Japan with a mass surveillance system called 'XKEYSCORE'.The system is said to be capable of collecting and searching on-line emails and other communications data.Japanese Defense Ministry officials say they have not read the files, and that they have no further comment.

(Cited from NHK World News)

・アメリカに監視される日本 ～スノーデン“未公開ファイル”の衝撃（クローズアップ現代、前編）

・プライバシーか？セキュリティか？ ～スノーデン“未公開ファイル”の衝撃（クローズアップ現代、後編）

Japan Files. (You can download from the Web site above.)

・沖縄にあるNSA施設移転に関する報告書(No.1)

・横田基地内のNSA施設に関する報告書(No.2)

・1983年の大韓航空機撃墜事件に関する報告書(No.3)

・2007年のIWC・国際捕鯨委員会の総会に関する報告書(No.4)

・NSAの“大量監視プログラム”を日本に提供したとする報告書(No.5)