Link: Japan to use AI to tackle online manga and anime piracy

Japan plans to use artificial intelligence to combat pirating of anime and manga, aiming to protect its significant pop-culture revenues. The country loses billions annually due to over 1,000 illegal websites offering free downloads of these materials.

A ¥300 million pilot program will enable AI to identify and flag pirated content specific to manga and anime through image and text detection technologies. This initiative stems from the Cultural Affairs Agency's need for efficient digital policing.

"Copyright holders currently invest considerable effort in manual detection," stated agency official Keiko Momii. However, human moderators struggle to keep pace with the rapid increase in online piracy.

The project, part of the agency's budget for the fiscal year, could expand to monitor illegal sharing of films and music if successful. It draws inspiration from similar programs in South Korea.

As part of its "Cool Japan" strategy, the Japanese government aims to expand the global influence of its cultural products, targeting ¥20 trillion in export value by 2033. This strategy underscores the importance of creative industries to Japan's economy.

In 2022, Japan's gaming, anime, and manga sectors generated ¥4.7 trillion from international markets, a figure close to that of its microchip exports. With a large proportion of piracy sites operating in foreign languages, this initiative is crucial for safeguarding these vital cultural exports. #

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