Internet censorship in Singapore
Encyclopedia
In Singapore
, Internet services provided by the three major Internet service provider
s (ISPs) are subject to regulation by the Media Development Authority
(MDA) to block a "symbolic" number of websites containing "mass impact objectionable" material, including Playboy
and YouPorn
. In addition, the Ministry of Education of Singapore blocks access to pornographic and similar objectionable Internet sites on its proxy server
s.
In 2005, MDA banned a gay website and fined another website following complaints that the sites contained offensive content. The banned website is said to have promoted promiscuous sexual behaviour and recruited underage boys for sex and nude photography.
Government agencies have been known to use or threaten to use litigation against bloggers and other Internet content providers. The first instance of such activity was against Sintercom
in July 2001 when the founder, Dr Tan Chong Kee, was asked to register the website under the nascent Singapore Broadcast Authority Act (now Media Development Authority
). Dr Tan chose to shut down Sintercom due to concerns over the ambiguity of the Act. In April 2005, a blogger, Chen Jiahao, then a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, was made to apologise and shut down his blog
containing criticisms on government agency A*STAR, after its Chairman Philip Yeo
threatened to sue for defamation. In September 2005, three people were arrested and charged under the Sedition Act
for posting racist comments on the Internet. Two were sentenced to imprisonment
. Later, the Teachers' Union announced that it is offering legal assistance to teachers who want to take legal action against students who defame them on their blogs, after five students from Saint Andrew's Junior College
were suspended for three days for allegedly "flaming" two teachers and a vice-principal on their blogs.
In the last few years, the government has taken a much tougher stand on Internet-related matters, including censorship. Proposed amendments to the Penal Code intend to hold Internet users liable for "causing public mischief", and give the authorities broader powers in curtailing freedom of speech.
, the following sites are currently not available in Singapore (based on user attempts):
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Internet services provided by the three major Internet service provider
Internet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
s (ISPs) are subject to regulation by the Media Development Authority
Media Development Authority
The Media Development Authority is a statutory board of the Singapore Government, under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts .-History:...
(MDA) to block a "symbolic" number of websites containing "mass impact objectionable" material, including Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
and YouPorn
YouPorn
YouPorn is a free pornographic video sharing website. Since starting in August 2006, it has become the most popular pornographic website. In November 2007, it was reported to be the largest free pornographic website on the Internet...
. In addition, the Ministry of Education of Singapore blocks access to pornographic and similar objectionable Internet sites on its proxy server
Proxy server
In computer networks, a proxy server is a server that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers. A client connects to the proxy server, requesting some service, such as a file, connection, web page, or other resource available from a different server...
s.
In 2005, MDA banned a gay website and fined another website following complaints that the sites contained offensive content. The banned website is said to have promoted promiscuous sexual behaviour and recruited underage boys for sex and nude photography.
Government agencies have been known to use or threaten to use litigation against bloggers and other Internet content providers. The first instance of such activity was against Sintercom
Sintercom
Sintercom was an Internet community launched by Dr Tan Chong Kee in 1994 with the objective of providing a platform for free flowing discussion on various national issues much akin to soc.culture.singapore in USENET where he was active.-SBA incident:On 5 July 2001, before the general election, Dr...
in July 2001 when the founder, Dr Tan Chong Kee, was asked to register the website under the nascent Singapore Broadcast Authority Act (now Media Development Authority
Media Development Authority
The Media Development Authority is a statutory board of the Singapore Government, under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts .-History:...
). Dr Tan chose to shut down Sintercom due to concerns over the ambiguity of the Act. In April 2005, a blogger, Chen Jiahao, then a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, was made to apologise and shut down his blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
containing criticisms on government agency A*STAR, after its Chairman Philip Yeo
Philip Yeo
Philip Yeo Liat Kok is the Chairman of both SPRING Singapore and Singbridge International Investments. He was formerly the Special Adviser for Economic Development in the Prime Minister's Office from April 2007 to August 2011. Until 2007, he was the chairman of A*STAR, a government agency in...
threatened to sue for defamation. In September 2005, three people were arrested and charged under the Sedition Act
Sedition Act (Singapore)
The Sedition Act is in Chapter 290 of the Statutes of Singapore. It was last revised in 1985.In September 2005, the Sedition Act was first used on individuals when three men, including a teenager, were charged for making seditious and inflammatory racist comments on the Internet.-Seditious...
for posting racist comments on the Internet. Two were sentenced to imprisonment
Imprisonment
Imprisonment is a legal term.The book Termes de la Ley contains the following definition:This passage was approved by Atkin and Duke LJJ in Meering v Grahame White Aviation Co....
. Later, the Teachers' Union announced that it is offering legal assistance to teachers who want to take legal action against students who defame them on their blogs, after five students from Saint Andrew's Junior College
Saint Andrew's Junior College
Saint Andrew's Junior College is a junior college in Singapore, offering a two-year course for pre-university students leading up to GCE 'A' Level examinations....
were suspended for three days for allegedly "flaming" two teachers and a vice-principal on their blogs.
In the last few years, the government has taken a much tougher stand on Internet-related matters, including censorship. Proposed amendments to the Penal Code intend to hold Internet users liable for "causing public mischief", and give the authorities broader powers in curtailing freedom of speech.
List of banned websites
Although the list of websites is kept confidential by the Media Development AuthorityMedia Development Authority
The Media Development Authority is a statutory board of the Singapore Government, under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts .-History:...
, the following sites are currently not available in Singapore (based on user attempts):
| Website | Reason for censoring/banning |
|---|---|
| YouJizz.com | Pornography |
| RedTube | Pornography |
| Playboy | Lifestyle / Related to the word "fuck" |
| YouPorn | Pornography |
| WorldSex.com | Pornography |
| Chick.com | Most likely there are some scenes of partial homosexuality and nudity. It was banned due to Fundamentalist Christian Publication. |
| PersianKitty.com | Pornography |
| Sex.com | Pornography |
| steakandcheese.com | Pornography |
| penthouse.com | Lifestyle / Related to the word "motherfucker" |
| thetend.com | Pornography |
| spankwire.com | Pornography |
| xvideos.com | Pornography |
| pornhub.com | Pornography |
| tube8.com | Pornography |
| xnxx.com | Pornography |
| arielrebel.com | Pornography |
| empflix.com | Pornography |
| tnaflix.com | Pornography |
| keezmovies.com | Pornography |
| peeperz.com | Pornography |
| homo.com | Pornography |
Other Blocked Websites in Singapore
By user trial and error/research:- certain YouTube uploads, especially those by Vevo. (Working in all)
- Hulu.com - a video-streaming site for American TV shows that has servers in Singapore. (Working most of the time, without authorisation)