GRAMMAR DETAIL

〜とされる

is considered to be · is regarded as

Presents an evaluation or classification generally accepted by society or a relevant group without naming the evaluator.

Examples

この行為は規則違反とされている。

This act is considered a violation of the rules.

この建物は文化財とされている。

This building is regarded as a cultural property.

Structure: とされる follows an evaluation or classification and presents it as accepted without foregrounding who made it.
Basic usage: この行為は規則違反とされている。 presents the act as regarded as a rule violation under the relevant standards.

An active evaluator versus a passive assessment
- 委員会はこの行為を規則違反とした names the committee as evaluator. この行為は規則違反とされた shifts focus to the act and its assessment, changing the sentence's center while retaining the evaluation.
A past assessment versus a current classification
- 文化財とされた reports being regarded or classified as a cultural property in the past. 文化財とされている presents that assessment or classification as currently maintained.