Reports have emerged that members of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) have been engaged in collecting information under hidden identities. While details on the extent and nature of the operations are not currently clear, it appears that these activities occurred domestically. The authorities are conducting further investigations while legal experts question the implications on Japan's rigid laws on military operations.

In Japan, the post-war constitution strictly limits the role and activities of the GSDF, primarily confining it to self-defense. Any activities, such as intelligence gathering, that straddle the boundary of these limitations can become controversial. Japanese citizens typically prefer a peaceful and non-aggressive stance in military matters, but concerns over national security are increasingly pressing the nation to reconsider this position.

In the US or EU, intelligence gathering by the military, under certain regulations, is generally accepted as a necessary part of defending national security. However, due to Japan's unique constitutional constraints, these practices are viewed with more scrutiny and present a more complex legal and societal issue.