Police in Japan will step up efforts to monitor and delete online information related to gun- and bomb-making starting in March.

The move comes after a homemade gun was used in the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in July last year. The suspect reportedly made the gun and gunpowder by looking up videos and other content online.

The National Police Agency will designate online posts and websites related to the making of guns and explosives as "harmful information" that could be a threat to human life.

Site operators will be asked to delete such content.

The agency commissions an organization called the Internet Hotline Center to check and report illegal and harmful online content and have it deleted.

The center currently takes action against online content such as that related to child pornography and drug smuggling.

Starting March 1, content related to gun- and bomb-making will be added to the list of "harmful information" the center monitors. Posts that appear to be soliciting others to commit murder, robbery or human trafficking will also be added.

The center will also accept reports of such content from the public.

The National Police Agency is also considering using artificial intelligence to analyze social media posts.