Media.

Internet Regulation

Internet content regulations have existed since 1996 in the form of the Singapore Broadcasting Authority Act, which was succeeded by the Media Development Authority of Singapore Act in 2002. This Act gives the Media Development Authority (MDA) the power to regulate the internet. Licensing, registration, and codes of practice are some of the main tools which the MDA uses to regulate the internet.
Licensing

One of the MDA’s main regulatory tools is the Class Licence framework, which is embodied in the Broadcasting (Class Licence) Notification of 1996. Here, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Internet Content Providers are all automatically licensed.

Presently, the main local Internet Access Service Providers (which fall under ISPs) are Singnet, Pacific Internet and Starhub Internet. Internet Content Providers are those who provide information on the World Wide Web, including web authors and editors, web publishers, and web server administrators.
Registration

Internet Service Providers must register with the MDA.

Internet Content Providers, on the other hand, do not need to register unless they are determined by the MDA to be a political party registered in Singapore, or they are “engaged in the propagation, promotion or discussion of political or religious issues relating to Singapore”. The MDA says that registration does not mean that the promotion of political or religious issues is prohibited; rather, it “merely serves to emphasize the need for the content providers to be responsible in what they say”.

With regards to the press, an Internet Content Provider is required, under the Class Licence Notification, to register with the MDA if it is determined to be in the business of providing an online newspaper. Here, newspapers refer to any publication containing news, intelligence, reports of occurrences, remarks, observations, or comments; but does not include any publication published by or for the Government.
Codes of Practice

Section 11 of the MDA Act states that one of the MDA’s duties is to develop guidelines and codes of practice for media services. It also has the power to “monitor compliance with such codes” (Section 12h).

Thus, licensees under the Class Licence framework have to use their “best efforts” to ensure that they comply with these codes. This would be the Internet Code of Practice, which prohibits material that is objectionable on the grounds of “public interest, public morality, public order, public security, national harmony”. This includes material that is felt to glorify, incite, or endorse ethnic, racial or religious friction. This is not surprising given that the Government’s stance has been that it will uphold racial and religious harmony at all costs. Accordingly, public order tends to be held above individual rights. Prohibited material also includes that which deals with sexual violence and extreme violence or cruelty. Similar to the Undesirable Publications Act, the authority will consider if the material has any “intrinsic medical, scientific, artistic or educational value”.

Licensees have to remove or prohibit the broadcast of any material that contravenes the code. Those who go against this code are liable to sanctions, which include fines.

Licensees are also obliged to assist the MDA in investigating any possible breach of licence, whether by the licensee or by others. This includes furnishing the MDA with any information or other material that it may require.
Blocking of Sites

Besides the Class Licence Framework, the MDA blocks 100 mass-impact pornographic websites as a statement of community values. In its Internet Industry Guidelines, the MDA makes it clear that one of its main concerns is the ease of access to pornography on the Internet, especially to children and minors. The blocking of these websites can be said to be only a part of the total solution, which includes industry cooperation and public education.