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Bloggers risk legal action over hoaxes about SAF
SINGAPORE - When it comes to military matters, bloggers here have to be extra careful about what they say online - and it is not just about the need to safeguard sensitive information.
According to lawyers, bloggers run the risk of running afoul of the law if they publish unsubstantiated claims about the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) - such as the recent hoax that a 19-year-old full-time national serviceman was accidentally killed during a live-firing exercise.
They cited a little known clause under Section 505 of the Penal Code which states that a person who publishes a statement or rumour with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause any SAF personnel to disregard or fail in his duty, could be jailed up to three years and/or fined. A person would also be liable if he publishes a statement or rumour with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause fear or alarm to the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against public tranquillity.
The NSF death hoax was rebuked by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
Lawyers told TODAY that MINDEF would have a case if it pursues the matter.
Lawyer Chia Boon Teck, co-managing partner of Chia Wong LLP, noted that for instance, "a less rugged soldier may be so adversely affected by such news that he disregards or fails to participate in any live firing exercise unless his demands for additional safety precautions (whether reasonable or otherwise) are met by the SAF".
Hypothetically, such a hoax could also cause a concerned parent of a soldier to hold a public protest against live firing exercises and instigate members of the public to join in, breaching the peace in the process, Mr Chia pointed out.
Mr Chia noted that in such instances, "all it takes is an anonymous complaint" and the authorities would look into the matter. Lawyer Edmond Pereira, managing partner of Edmond Pereira & Partners, added: "If it is against public tranquillity and incites member of the public, MINDEF does have a course of action."
The hoax was reportedly posted on Jan 27 a blog Temasek Revealed. It also appeared on a Facebook page called Temasek Review.
It is understood that neither the blog nor the Temasek Review Facebook page is associated with socio-political website Temasek Review Emeritus.
Popular blogger Lee Kin Mun, better known as mrbrown, told TODAY that while he was unaware of the clause, "common sense would say you should not pass around unverified information about the SAF".
Mr Lee said: "My advice would be for organisations, they should learn how to be fast and realise that online media monitoring is more important as its is real time."
He added: "Bloggers just have to be as careful as they can be but this can sometimes be up to their own appetites for the truth and based on what their audience wants to hear."
When asked if it was pursuing the matter, MINDEF would only say: "Upon picking up the post, we verified internally that no such incident had taken place and posted a clarification."
Copyright 2012 MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Bloggers risk legal action over hoaxes about SAF
SINGAPORE - When it comes to military matters, bloggers here have to be extra careful about what they say online - and it is not just about the need to safeguard sensitive information.
According to lawyers, bloggers run the risk of running afoul of the law if they publish unsubstantiated claims about the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) - such as the recent hoax that a 19-year-old full-time national serviceman was accidentally killed during a live-firing exercise.
They cited a little known clause under Section 505 of the Penal Code which states that a person who publishes a statement or rumour with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause any SAF personnel to disregard or fail in his duty, could be jailed up to three years and/or fined. A person would also be liable if he publishes a statement or rumour with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause fear or alarm to the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against public tranquillity.
The NSF death hoax was rebuked by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
Lawyers told TODAY that MINDEF would have a case if it pursues the matter.
Lawyer Chia Boon Teck, co-managing partner of Chia Wong LLP, noted that for instance, "a less rugged soldier may be so adversely affected by such news that he disregards or fails to participate in any live firing exercise unless his demands for additional safety precautions (whether reasonable or otherwise) are met by the SAF".
Hypothetically, such a hoax could also cause a concerned parent of a soldier to hold a public protest against live firing exercises and instigate members of the public to join in, breaching the peace in the process, Mr Chia pointed out.
Mr Chia noted that in such instances, "all it takes is an anonymous complaint" and the authorities would look into the matter. Lawyer Edmond Pereira, managing partner of Edmond Pereira & Partners, added: "If it is against public tranquillity and incites member of the public, MINDEF does have a course of action."
The hoax was reportedly posted on Jan 27 a blog Temasek Revealed. It also appeared on a Facebook page called Temasek Review.
It is understood that neither the blog nor the Temasek Review Facebook page is associated with socio-political website Temasek Review Emeritus.
Popular blogger Lee Kin Mun, better known as mrbrown, told TODAY that while he was unaware of the clause, "common sense would say you should not pass around unverified information about the SAF".
Mr Lee said: "My advice would be for organisations, they should learn how to be fast and realise that online media monitoring is more important as its is real time."
He added: "Bloggers just have to be as careful as they can be but this can sometimes be up to their own appetites for the truth and based on what their audience wants to hear."
When asked if it was pursuing the matter, MINDEF would only say: "Upon picking up the post, we verified internally that no such incident had taken place and posted a clarification."
Copyright 2012 MediaCorp Pte Ltd
