According to police spokesman Karen Chen, it is not an offence
under existing regulations for individuals to surf porn
sites.
The Media Development Authority (MDA), Singapores content
regulator, does not control what individuals access on the Internet
in the privacy of their own homes or at their workplace, she
added.
However, Ms Chen verified that is against the law to possess such
materials on ones PC. The films Act and the Undesirable
Publications Act prohibit the possession of obscene materials,
which includes pornography.
That said, the police would usually look at the facts and
circumstances of each case before deciding on the course of
action, noted Ms Chen.
Lawyer Bryan Tan said, if charged and found guilty, each obscene
image or video clip could cost you up to six months in jail and/or
$500 in fines, up to a maximum of $20,000/
In fact the authorities have never directly gone after home users
for surfing or possession of pornography, Mr Bryan Tan said.
Ms Chen said The MDAs focus is on regulating the distributors and
peddlers of such objectionable content to the public, namely the
providers.
According to Mr Tan, actions that could be considered online
distribution include sending obscene images or video clips to other
people through e-mail or instant messaging services; uploading
obscene materials to public websites like the risqué but popular
SgGirls or SammyBoy websites; and making obscene materials
available to others via file-sharing services or chat
programs.
He said there have been no reported cases here involving the online
distribution of obscene materials, though one man was jailed for
six months in 2003 for selling 26 obscene VCDs over an Internet
chat program to a 14-year old boy.
