108 of 2013, is a law in Japan allowing the government to designate defense and other sensitive information as "special secrets" that are protected from public disclosure.
[3][4] Concerns were raised on how whether human rights will be violated and whether there is a balance between public interest and the necessity of protecting state secrets.
[19] On April 27, 2023, violations of the SSL were reported with officers in the JMSDF and the JGSDF for failing to ensure lower-ranked personnel have received appropriate clearances.
[25] The head of an administrative organ shall designate as Specially Designated Secrets (a) Operation of the Self-Defense Forces or thereto relevant assessments, plans or research (b) Signal or imagery information, and other important information collected in relation to defense (c) Collection and organization of information listed in (b) or the capacity to do so (d) Assessments, plans or research pertaining to development of defense capability (e) Type or quantity of weapons, ammunition, aircraft and other material for defense use (f) Structure of communications network and means of communications for defense use (g) Cryptology for defense use (h) Specifications, performance or usage of weapons, ammunition, aircraft or other material for defense use including those at the R&D stage (i) Methods of production, inspection, repair or examination of weapons, ammunition, aircraft and other material for defense use including those at the R&D stage (j) Design, performance or internal use of facilities for defense use (a) Among policy or contents of negotiations or cooperation with foreign governments or international organizations, those pertaining to the protection of lives and bodies of people, territorial integrity and other issues deemed important to national security (b) Measures including embargoes on imports or exports that Japan carries out for national security purposes or thereto relevant policies (c) Important information collected regarding the protection of the lives and bodies of people, territorial integrity, or the peace and security of the international community, or information that requires protection under international agreements including treaties related to national security (d) Collection and organization of information listed in (c) or the capacity to do so (e) Cryptology for diplomatic use, including communications between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japanese diplomatic establishments (a) Measures to prevent Designated Harmful Activities or thereto relevant plans or research (b) Important information collected on the protection of lives and bodies of people, or information collected from foreign governments or international organizations in relation to prevention of Designated Harmful Activities (c) Collection and organization of information listed in (b) or the capacity to do so (d) Cryptology used for prevention of Designated Harmful Activities (a) Measures to prevent terrorism or thereto relevant plans or research (b) Important information collected on the protection of lives and bodies of people, or information collected from foreign governments or international organizations in relation to prevention of terrorism (c) Collection and organization of information listed in (b) or the capacity to do so (d) Cryptology used for prevention of terrorism Access to SDS shall be limited to government personnel, employees of Government of Japan contractors and prefectural police officers who, following the security clearance process, are identified as not risking unauthorized disclosure of SDS.
[21] Critics claim that the law is vague on what constitutes a "state secret" and represents a return to pre-WW II militarism when the Peace Preservation Act was used to stifle political opposition.
[26] With the "War on Terror" and the challenges by China and North Korea and a number of events where military security was breached by Japan, it was argued that the government established the law to strengthen its relationship in the context of its partnership with the United States.