Internet political discourse "dangerous"

last SG · 2006-04-04T01:55:16+00:00

If the government is going to make an example out of it, the information can be fed to the press and it will be page 1 news (just like the talk given by Dr B...

LazerLordz SG

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -

Political debate on the Internet could fuel "dangerous discourse" in Singapore, the government said on Monday, warning people who post political commentary on Web sites could face prosecution.

Speaking in parliament, senior minister of state Balaji Sadasivan, said anyone using the Internet to "persistently propagate, promote or circulate political issues" about Singapore during election periods was breaking the law.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, whose People's Action Party has dominated politics in the city-state since independence in 1965, is widely expected to call early elections in the coming months.

"In a free-for-all Internet environment, where there are no rules, political debate could easily degenerate into an unhealthy, unreliable and dangerous discourse, flush with rumors and distortions to mislead and confuse the public," Sadasivan said.

The tiny island-republic's laws require political parties and individuals to register if they want to post political content on the Internet.

Print media in Singapore are tightly controlled, but the Internet is rife with Web sites that discuss Singapore politics, from the critical newsgroup sg_review (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sg_Review/) to the comical www.talkingcock.com and blogs such as singabloodypore (http://singabloodypore.blogspot.com) and www.yawningbread.org.

It is not clear whether any of these sites have registered with the government.

While Sadasivan said the government's approach was to take "a light touch" in regulating the Internet, political activists have complained that the rules are too broadly defined, preventing an open debate. He said a change of the law was ruled out.

The rules also apply to "podcasting," an increasingly popular medium through which audio files are made available for download on the Internet, allowing Web surfers to listen to them at their convenience.

Last year, opposition politician Chee Soon Juan launched a podcast on the Singapore Democratic Party's Web site in an attempt to reach a wider audience and bypass the pro-government media.

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What a big fat joke. Rolling Eyes

Dangerous discourse?Or is it a danger to the survival of certain interests.. Laughing

hisoka SG

they cannot control so they seek to eliminate lor Confused

LazerLordz SG

Which is why it's even more important to have a change in government, is this the kind of country you want your kids to inherit? Sad

Anti-RuleSS SG

Not again.......... Rolling Eyes

shade343 SG

Remember Remember the 5th of NOvember…..

Anti-RuleSS SG

My signature said it all........... Rolling Eyes

LazerLordz SG

5th? Shocked what happened on the 5th of November?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Eliminating means becoming North Korea. Confused

They only want to seek tighter control, like how they control print media.

hisoka SG

hey they are trying to eliminate the internet from politics mah

ndmmxiaomayi SG

But the thing is how? Controlling everything that comes in and out like North Korea? Have a national firewall like China? It's practically impossible to eliminate Internet from politics.

hisoka SG

they trying lah whether they succed to what extent is another problem

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Maybe. But I wouldn't want that.

TooFree SG

I agree.

In all fairness, debate or one's comment especially of political nature should be regulated or veto by another. This is to prevent untruthful attack on the government and undermine the nation as a whole. Reading one-sided story most often does not formed the complete picture and worst, distorting can be a will in the process when information are passed down. Hence it is not fair to any party or any person under scrutinization. It is also not hard to understand that a healthy debate should works two ways, ie a proposition and an opposition team.

Forums registered or provided by the government are not only safe boundary for healthy debating of national issue but also allow one to feedback. More insights, indepth understanding or criticism on government policy can be better achieved in that sense. Neutral

Devil1976 SG

Just who are the ones trying to MISLEAD, CONFUSE and DISCOURSE people from the TRUTH Question

And I thought they just mentioned about ENCOURAGING OPEN DISCUSSIONS and for PEOPLE to SPEAK UP...?

Speaking from the mouth in a min, and just SLAPPING IT IMMEDIATELY AFTER in another minute...

So what should the citizens of Singapore be talking about...?? ALL GOOD THINGS about the government and RULING PARTY, and anything else are just false statements which 'pollute' people and distance them from the 'truth' (which the pictures you're trying so hard to convince and install...?)...?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

It is safe boundaries no doubt, but would the people moderating it be fair? Would the government allow criticism?

LazerLordz SG

I call this an attempt to prevent a fair and vigorous debate, and the marketplace of ideas is a hallmark of a functioning democracy.

Proper forums are well and good, except that they must not be government run.How then can you expect criticism of the government if it has control over what people say?

I find this the death throes of a mentality that is out of vogue, and refuses to acknowledge that their time is over, and seeks to hinder other factions which would be assisted by this knowledge.

Furthermore, who is he to say what is acceptable in a point of view?All of them share the same malaise, the delusion that they are saviors or future saviors of Singapore.. Laughing

LazerLordz SG

The choice is in the hands of the people, let's see if they are smart enough to add 1 + 1 together..

if you want to damn your kids to such a life, then it's a shame. A real shame.

Devil1976 SG

Now... Ain't we all just TOO FAMILAR with THAT...?

ndmmxiaomayi SG

What is acceptable to one may not be acceptable to others. And that's the problem. The government finds that some views are really unacceptable to them, but to the citizens, they feel that it is all right. That's why they want to control.

LazerLordz SG

Sigh, that's so true..