Police in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, have issued a rare warning to social media users against posting slanderous comments based on ungrounded information.

The Hyogo prefectural police headquarters posted the message, titled "To social media users," on its official X account on Wednesday.

The move was a response to a rumor that spread on social media that a former member of the Hyogo prefectural assembly, Takeuchi Hideaki, was facing arrest. The rumor spread after Takeuchi died on Saturday in an apparent suicide.

Hyogo prefectural police chief Murai Toshiyuki attended a prefectural assembly meeting on Monday and declared the information was completely groundless.
Takeuchi was responsible for investigating allegations against Hyogo Governor Saito Motohiko of power harassment and other misconduct.

In the X post, Hyogo police urged social media users to stop posting hurtful and speculative comments without definite proof.

They added that anyone who does so may face criminal or civil penalties, even if their actions were based on a sense of justice.

As of Thursday morning, the post had about two million views and 22,000 likes.

The prefectural police say they will continue to issue similar warnings to prevent slander on social media.