The Asahi Shimbun reported, citing a tip from a former member, that the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force operated an organization called the "Local Intelligence Unit" to secretly collect personal information on individuals such as non-governmental organization (NGO) officials, according to Asahi.

While acknowledging that intelligence-gathering activities took place, a Japanese government official explained to Asahi that the collected information was rarely utilized for activities such as overseas deployments of the Self-Defense Forces.

A whistleblower who belonged to the Ground Self-Defense Force's Local Intelligence Unit stated that systematic investigations were conducted on civilians, including university professors and NGO officials well-versed in overseas situations in countries where the Self-Defense Forces were dispatched.

The Local Intelligence Unit's civilian investigation report obtained by Asahi recorded around 40 items of personal information by category, including the subject's photograph, body type, eye and skin color, personality, attitude, ideology, beliefs, financial situation, and sexual orientation.

The whistleblower conveyed that contacting targets within the Local Intelligence Unit was commonly referred to as "sales," and quotas were imposed for two contacts per month.

Asahi pointed out that because the investigation reports were not treated as official documents, there is a possibility they violate the Personal Information Protection Act as well as the Public Records Management Act, which stipulates the proper management of administrative documents.

This issue was reported by a regional newspaper in the Kyushu region in late July.

During a press conference held after the report was released, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi remarked, "At this point, the fact that inappropriate activities were conducted has not been confirmed."

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