Key facts
- Japan is considering implementing GPS tracking devices for stalkers.
- The devices would be used for individuals under restraining orders.
- Victims could receive proximity alerts.
- The government may revise the anti-stalking law.
- The proposals follow a high-profile fatal stalking case.
Japan is moving to implement emergency countermeasures against stalking, including the potential use of GPS tracking devices for individuals who have been issued restraining orders. The proposed measures, discussed at a ministerial meeting on crime, aim to enhance victim safety by notifying them if a stalker is in close proximity. The government is also exploring technologies for miniaturizing these tracking devices and considering revisions to the existing anti-stalking law. These plans come in response to a rise in stalking incidents, with a record 3,037 restraining orders issued in 2025, and follow a recent fatal stabbing of a woman by her former partner who was already under a restraining order for stalking her. Further discussions will focus on limiting the use of tracking devices to more dangerous cases and potentially requiring stalkers to undergo counseling.