Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has widened the digital divide, and the spread of disinformation, known as the disinfodemic, has become a global challenge. UNESCO has been working to counter the disinfodemic and improve digital inclusion efforts through media and information literacy. The author calls digital inclusion, which includes the development of critical thinking skills about media messages and information, “critical digital inclusion.” This paper examines the report of the “Study Group on Platform Services” by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the report of the Center for Global Communication at the International University of Japan on “The Reality of Fake News in Japan and Measures to Deal with It” as examples of Japan’s efforts towards digital inclusion and against disinformation. Critical digital inclusion in Japan is still in its infancy, and it is necessary to conduct research and surveys not only in the government but also in civic activities and schools.
