Why this happens

Most video calling apps do not notify participants when the other party screen records. FaceTime, Zoom, Google Meet, and Snapchat all permit silent recording.

Screen recording of intimate calls is frequently used as a control tactic by partners or as a prelude to sextortion. The recording itself may have occurred months before the distribution.

Legal framework in Japan

Act on Prevention of Damage Caused by Provision of Private Sexual Image Records (Act No. 126 of 2014). Up to 3 years imprisonment or fine up to ¥500,000 for unauthorised provision. Up to 1 year for facilitating provision.

Japan enacted the Revenge Porn Prevention Act in 2014 in response to the Mitsuhashi Yuka case. The Act creates a specific criminal offence and obliges providers to expedite removal upon victim notification. The PPC enforces APPI rights against domestic and foreign processors.

Evidence to preserve

Do not: Do not delete the call history or block the perpetrator's number before evidence is preserved. The call records establish the underlying recording event.

Five step removal process

  1. 1

    Preserve all evidence first

    The full call history showing the date, time, and other participant of every relevant call. Full page screenshot of every URL where the recording appears.

  2. 2

    File the Revenge Porn Prevention Act criminal complaint

    Report to local police or the national cybercrime unit. Safer Internet Association hotline can assist.

  3. 3

    Submit an erasure request under Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) request for cessation of use

    Each major platform has a designated data protection contact. The request must cite the legal basis and identify the URLs. The platform has 30 days to respond. PPC accepts complaints for non compliance.

  4. 4

    Run a biometric scan to find every additional copy

    Content posted to one platform is rarely confined to one platform. ScanErase identifies every current hosting location in a single scan, including mirror copies and AI generated variants.

  5. 5

    File TAKE IT DOWN Act notices for covered platforms

    Use your scan report to file the federal 48 hour notice yourself, in parallel with your domestic rights. The two regimes are cumulative, not exclusive.

Statutory citations to include in your complaint

Frequently asked questions

Is screen recorded call a crime in Japan?

Yes. Act on Prevention of Damage Caused by Provision of Private Sexual Image Records (Act No. 126 of 2014) criminalises this conduct. Up to 3 years imprisonment or fine up to ¥500,000 for unauthorised provision. Up to 1 year for facilitating provision.

What evidence should a Japan victim of screen recorded call preserve?

The full call history showing the date, time, and other participant of every relevant call. Full page screenshot of every URL where the recording appears. Any messages from the other participant before, during, or after the call. The application used for the call, which determines what server side records may be available.

Does Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) request for cessation of use apply to this scenario?

Yes. Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) request for cessation of use gives the victim a direct erasure right against any platform processing the imagery. PPC enforces non compliance.

What support is available in Japan for screen recorded call?

Safer Internet Association hotline provides direct support to victims and can assist with both the criminal complaint and the platform removal process. Contact at https://www.safe-line.jp.

Can a Japan victim also file a US TAKE IT DOWN Act notice?

Yes when the hosting platform is subject to US jurisdiction. The 48 hour federal removal obligation runs in parallel with rights under Revenge Porn Prevention Act and Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) request for cessation of use.

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