Japan's communications ministry and social media platform operators say they will launch a campaign to improve online literacy and prevent the spread of disinformation and misinformation.

The project called Digital Positive Action will be jointly run by the communications ministry and 19 businesses and organizations.

Participants include platform operators X, formerly known as Twitter, Google, Meta and LY Corporation.

A news conference was held in Tokyo on Wednesday to explain the outline of the project.

The plan calls for improving users' internet literacy to stop the flow of disinformation and misinformation, and push forward countermeasures on defamation.

A website will be set up to introduce initiatives by businesses and provide educational materials.

The members will also host seminars and work jointly on educational activities and providing information through advertisements.

Keio University Professor Yamamoto Tatsuhiko, a constitutional scholar, will lead the project.

Yamamoto says he hopes it will help people to question the appropriateness of using whatever means necessary to gain attention, and create a new culture that changes democracy for the better.

Communications ministry official Yoshida Koki notes that social media platforms play an important role in generating and gathering information, but they also have a dark side.

He says he hopes the project members can collaborate as a team to address the situation.