Fantia, a leading Japanese digital platform hosting doujinshi, games, cosplay, and VTuber content, has issued a statement addressing its recently announced “updated guidelines” for censoring adult material. Following significant pushback from local content creators, the platform clarified that these modifications were implemented in response to inquiries from Japanese law enforcement.
For context, last month, Fantia revealed plans to overhaul how adult content must be censored. Initially covering both 2D artwork and live-action submissions, the new rules demanded creators use more extensive mosaic effects or censor bars on explicit uploads. Additionally, the regulations were retroactive, giving creators minimal time to adjust older submissions or risk penalties for violating terms of service.
These elements led to a negative reception of the revised guidelines. In reaction to the criticism, Fantia initially rescinded parts of the changes, confirming that the stricter rules would not apply to 2D (non-live action) material. Now, a few weeks later, the platform has issued an apology and offered further explanation for the situation.
According to Fantia’s latest update, the company received a notification from authorities suggesting that certain platform content might breach Article 175 of Japan’s penal code. This legislation states that individuals publicly exhibiting or distributing obscene items like documents, drawings, or recorded media face penalties including up to 2 years imprisonment, fines up to 2,500,000 yen, or both. Essentially, Fantia was flagged for potentially hosting unlawful material.
Considering previous arrests tied to obscene material distribution and aiming to “remove any chance of illegality,” Fantia opted to enforce stricter content policies.
A key point to highlight is that the police inquiry specifically pertained to live-action content on Fantia. Nevertheless, since Article 175 covers non-live action works like drawings, the platform at first chose to adopt a cautious approach by adjusting policies for all explicit material. The hurried rollout of the revisions and tight deadline for updating past posts stemmed from the platform’s urgency to mitigate legal risks, as the statement explains.
Moving forward, Fantia has affirmed it will revert to its pre-revision censorship standards for 2D content, whereas the enhanced rules will remain in effect for live-action uploads. The platform has also cautioned creators that all its guidelines are “self-imposed norms based on our company’s own assessment, considering input from relevant bodies and societal expectations; they do not fully prevent or insure against future legal issues or enforcement actions. We urge all creators to adhere to these standards and to proceed with care in their creative endeavors and postings as they see fit.”