Smart tags, which prevent people from forgetting or losing things, are a welcome tool for students and business people who are out and about a lot and tend to forget things.
By placing a tag in a bag or other item, you can easily find it by checking the tag’s location on your smartphone.
While these are convenient tools, they are also easily misused.
As is widely known, the government has approved a bill to amend the Stalking Prevention Act to ban the unauthorized installation of smart tags as an anti-stalking measure.
In response to the proposed amendment, various media outlets have been reporting examples of smart tags being misused for stalking purposes, and it’s impressive, in a negative way, to see how they can be used in this way.
The proposed amendment only prohibits the “unauthorized installation” of smart tags, and there is no problem with legitimate uses for oneself or one’s family, but there may still be some people who are hesitant to use them.
On the other hand, we cannot rule out the possibility that more cleverly designed smart tags intended for misuse may begin circulating underground.
For example, smart tags could be so small and transparent that you would only notice them if you were looking closely, or smart tags disguised as everyday items like erasers or lipstick.
The cat-and-mouse game surrounding the misuse of smart tags for stalking is likely to continue for some time.
I really feel that technology is a double-edged sword.
Most people use smart technology wisely to benefit their daily lives or work, but a small number of unscrupulous people come up with strange ways to use it, which makes unnecessary regulation necessary.
It is an unnecessary burden for the government who imposes regulations, and also for the majority of citizens who use technology in a fair way.
I guess we just have to accept that “that’s the way the world is”… (Kei Kitajima)

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