Tokyo International News Agency

Japanese creator platform Fantia has sparked widespread online debate following a sudden revision to its guidelines and its subsequent suspension. On May 29, Fantia apologized for the confusion and revealed that it is renegotiating its policies and standards for the 2D (anime/manga) genre with a "legal agency" that had flagged the platform. Until a new standard is established, the review process will temporarily revert to the previous guidelines. Following this announcement, social media has been flooded with users asking, "Which legal agency specifically flagged them?" While some speculated about the police, government administrative bodies, or the Internet Hotline Center, others expressed skepticism. Many suspect that the term "legal agency" is actually a cover-up for pressure from credit card companies and payment processors, which have been tightening regulations on creative content. Furthermore, many users pointed out the unnatural nature of Fantia...

The creator support platform Fantia has sparked significant controversy online following its announcement of a major tightening of its censorship and "mosaic" standards. Starting May 25, the service will implement an extremely strict set of new guidelines that prohibit the use of translucent mosaics, thin blurring, and simple black bars for censorship. Crucially, these rules will be applied retroactively, requiring creators to go back and edit their previously uploaded works. What has drawn particular scrutiny is Fantia's explanation regarding the involvement of "relevant institutions." In its official statement, the platform claimed it has received "extremely strict guidance and points of concern from a legal perspective regarding censorship and mosaic standards in certain content" from these organizations. However, the specific names of these institutions were never disclosed. In response, social media has been flooded with posts criticizing this lac...