Japan To Use AI Detection System To Tackle Online Manga, Anime Piracy

Japan, a global hub for anime and manga, is set to employ artificial intelligence (AI) to combat the growing issue of online piracy. With over 1,000 websites offering illegal downloads of Japanese content, the government is taking action to protect its creative industries, which generate billions of dollars annually. Under a new 300 million yen ($2 million) pilot project proposed by Japan's cultural agency, AI will use advanced image and text recognition to identify pirated manga books and anime series across the web.

The move comes as copyright holders struggle to keep pace with the rise in pirated content, which has overwhelmed human moderators. Keiko Momii, an official from the cultural agency, explained that manual tracking of pirated material is no longer feasible, given the scale of the issue. By utilizing AI, Japan hopes to automate the detection process and reclaim lost revenue from illegal downloads.

The initiative draws inspiration from a similar project in South Korea, and if successful, it could expand to include other pirated media, such as films and music. Japan's manga and anime sectors contribute significantly to its economy, with an estimated $30 billion in exports in 2022. However, approximately 70% of pirating sites operate in foreign languages, including English, Chinese, and Vietnamese, making the global fight against piracy even more challenging.

Japan's "Cool Japan" strategy aims to boost exports of its cultural content, to reach 20 trillion yen ($130 billion) by 2033. The use of AI is seen as a key step in protecting these valuable assets while ensuring the sustainability of the creative industries that play a critical role in Japan's economic growth.

Refrence From: www.ndtv.com