New law to ban kids from online dating sites

With the bill, the NPA wants to ban phone users under 18 from using the online services, which have become a hotbed of child prostitution, pedophilic activities and other crimes.
At least a move forward. Good for the international opinion, but does it go against Japanese mentality and culture ?

However, NPA (National Police Agency) officials believe the situation in Japan is unique. "The declaration concerns children who are sexually exploited against their will as a result of poverty and so on. We believe children who willingly solicit are not victims (of sexual exploitation)," a spokesman for the NPA's Safety Bureau said.
Ah. A step forward, a step backward. Let's dance !

"We are fully aware of the argument that underage sex-seeking adults are solely responsible for child prostitution," the spokesman said. "However, in reality, children are no angels. So we have reached the conclusion that online soliciting needs to be regulated just like pimping on the streets. "We hope the new law will make children more sensitive to standards of society."
Wonder how many European children are seeking adults for money via their mobiles or Internet. Never heard of any case in the press. Japan is so unique, that's wonderful ! (sarcasm)

Over 18s who solicit online by pretending to be underage and children who post a message offering their sex without real intention to prostitute also face punishment. The planned maximum punishment against offending children is a fine
By the simple law of money, that means that children should go to the end and never refuse to give in when adults solicit them. Otherwise, they'd face a fine (=lose money) instead of making some. Sad, but that's exactly the kind of reasoning that pushes teenagers to sell their body.