Singapore parliament approves legislation to limit harmful content, says free speech won’t be affected
- Regulation would serve to limit material advocating for self-harm, physical or sexual violence and those depicting child sexual exploitation
- Companies that refuse to abide by the new legislation could face financial penalties
Josephine Teo, the minister for Communications and Information, said in parliament that major social media giants, were receptive to the regulation which would serve as an online “firefighter” to limit harm caused from content such as material advocating suicide or self-harm, physical or sexual violence, terrorism and those depicting child sexual exploitation.
The Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill will become law once it receives assent from President Halimah Yacob. The new law beefs up the country’s current regulation regime for online content.
Authorities have in recent years signalled the need to refresh laws governing online space, though new legislation such as its anti-fake news legislation have garnered criticism over concerns they would be used against critics of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
Social media platforms were chosen as the first type of online communication service to be regulated by the bill as an official survey conducted in June showed that about three out of five Singapore-based internet users were exposed to harmful online content.
Among other things, when enacted, the law will require social media platforms with “significant reach or impact in Singapore” to put in place codes of practice to keep users safe from harmful content.
Responding to calls for the government to offer reassurances that freedom of expression will not be affected, Teo said the legislation would not give the de facto media regulator, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), “unfettered ability” to issue new rules for social media giants to comply with.
