SOCIAL ‘JUSTICE’: YouTube video helps to spur Japan’s version of ‘Stop the Steal’

Editor’s note: This is part of a series on issues surrounding freedom of speech, focusing on “justice” in society where social media and generative artificial intelligence can quickly spread information and misinformation far and wide. * * * A 29-year-old YouTuber from Sapporo who operates as “Fan Hokkaido” gasped as he looked at his computer screen about two weeks after the Feb. 8 Lower House election. His video covering “election fraud allegations” against a new political party, Team Mirai, had been viewed over 360,000 times—more than 10 times the figure for his previous videos. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, he recalled thinking: “It’s getting this much traction. I should do more of this.” Unfortunately for Team Mirai, he did just that. Led by AI engineer Takahiro Anno, Team Mirai was formed in 2025 under such slogans as “Change politics with technology” and “Digital democracy.” It won its first Diet seat in the July 2025 Upper House election, fulfilling the requirements to be a national political party. In the February Lower House election, the party made a major breakthrough by winning 11 seats. SEEDS OF SUSPICION The Sapporo YouTuber said he took notice of Team Mirai a few days after the
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