Web3

Mercari to Fully Eliminate Malicious Users with AI

TOKYO, May 22 (News On Japan) - Mercari has announced a major reinforcement of its fraud prevention efforts using AI, following a surge in disputes in the growing secondhand goods market. The popular flea market app is stepping up its campaign to root out dishonest users while launching a new system to guarantee full refunds in the event of trouble.

One example of the issues plaguing the platform involves a defective child car seat. "When attaching this seat to a car, pulling here should reveal the lever, but it's broken and doesn't come out at all," explained a reporter, demonstrating a case where the item was not as described. Similar incidents have been on the rise, with buyers reporting products that arrive damaged or significantly different from the seller’s description. Common scams now include item swapping and fraudulent returns.

"We will use AI to enhance surveillance capabilities and eliminate fraudulent users from the platform," said Toshiaki Sako, head of the Mercari marketplace division.

The newly announced measures include using AI to learn suspicious behavior patterns and assign risk scores to transactions. Users flagged by the system may face account restrictions or demands for compensation. Mercari also plans to open a dedicated "authentication center" and introduce a system that offers full reimbursement to buyers in cases of verified disputes.

Source: TBS

Israeli Army Fires Warning Shots at Japanese Diplomat

The Israeli military has fired warning shots at a diplomatic delegation visiting the West Bank, including a Japanese official, during a tour of the Jenin refugee camp on May 21st. Although no one was injured in the incident, the move has drawn sharp criticism from several countries.

Seafood Prices Also Soaring in Japan

Japan is facing a growing crisis not just with rice, but also with seafood, as supply shortages and rising prices begin to hit the consumer's dinner table.

Racehorse Sets New Record for Most Consecutive Losses in Japan

A seven-year-old mare named Padmarwat, based at Saga Racecourse, extended her losing streak to 114 races on May 18th, setting a new national record for consecutive defeats in Japanese horse racing.

Five-Year-Old Girl Found With Stab Wounds as Parents Discovered Dead

Following what appears to be a violent domestic incident, the bodies of a man and a woman were found inside a residence in Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture, with a five-year-old girl discovered alive but suffering from stab wounds to her back. Authorities believe the two adults had been dead for several days by the time police arrived.

Family Demands Full Disclosure of 295 Hours of Detention Footage

Four years ago, a Sri Lankan woman named Wishma died after repeatedly complaining of illness while detained at a Nagoya immigration facility. The government has admitted to possessing 295 hours of video footage documenting her condition leading up to her death—but has only disclosed five hours of it to the bereaved family.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Web3 NEWS

AI to Prevent Heatstroke as Japan Braces for Early Summer Heat

A construction site in Nagoya has introduced an AI-based system that analyzes workers’ facial expressions to assess heatstroke risk in real time.

Mercari to Fully Eliminate Malicious Users with AI

Mercari has announced a major reinforcement of its fraud prevention efforts using AI, following a surge in disputes in the growing secondhand goods market. The popular flea market app is stepping up its campaign to root out dishonest users while launching a new system to guarantee full refunds in the event of trouble.

Japan Urged to Stop Falling Behind as AI Transforms Global Business

Following the explosive rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT since their debut in 2022, the global business world is rapidly transforming. Yet, while companies in the United States and China rush to adopt these technologies, Japan is still lagging behind.

Inside OpenAI's Stargate Megafactory with Sam Altman

OpenAI is building one of the world’s largest AI-focused data centers in partnership with Microsoft, a massive project codenamed "Stargate" that marks a strategic shift toward custom-built infrastructure to support the development of artificial general intelligence. (Bloomberg)

Japan Warns Against Misusing AI-Generated Celebrity Voices

Following a surge of AI-generated videos in which voice actors’ voices were used without permission to sing songs, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has issued an official warning that such actions may constitute a violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.