TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese state secrets bill toughening penalties for leaks came a step closer to becoming law on Thursday when ruling parties forced it through a parliamentary panel amid protests it will muzzle the media and help cover up official misdeeds.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's drive to pass the law coincides with a worldwide debate on secrecy after former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden leaked documents on intelligence agencies' extensive collection of data about ordinary citizens and a U.S. Army private leaked masses of sensitive documents to anti-secrecy group Wikileaks.
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