What’s the big deal, some say? It’ll only be used by the police for criminal investigations. Nothing to fuss about if you’re not anywhere near the underworld. Perhaps.
But there’s also POFMA. Remember all the hand-wringing when the PAP told us something had to be done about deliberate online falsehoods?
Post-legislation, the Act was used by the government even to insist that it’s interpretation of statistical data is the true and correct one, leaving the “offending” party to seek redress through the courts if it disputes the state’s assertion – a process that is thoroughly onerous in terms of funds and time.
Then there’s the complete shutdown of space for political dissent – and even for not-so-political actions. Name me one other government that prosecutes a lone activist carrying a placard with Mr Smiley on it.
But like the TT matter, you say, what’s the big deal if you’re not into posting anything that might be remotely of public interest or that you’ll just stay clear of carrying any placards.
But here’s why it matters – and matters to you and your family.
The use of TT other than exclusively for Covid19 matters, the constriction of online space, the throttling of even the most benign of political dissent, the employment of defamation laws, the castigation of academics, just to cite a few examples, cast a long and pernicious shadow on Singaporeans’ psyche.
When people know they are being watched and sanctioned, self-censorship becomes the norm. It becomes baked into society’s culture.
And here’s when it gets really dangerous: We think and behave as if such censorship, whether state- or self-imposed, is not just normal but necessary.
a lot more at https://tinyurI.com/yyr9pqa2
But there’s also POFMA. Remember all the hand-wringing when the PAP told us something had to be done about deliberate online falsehoods?
Post-legislation, the Act was used by the government even to insist that it’s interpretation of statistical data is the true and correct one, leaving the “offending” party to seek redress through the courts if it disputes the state’s assertion – a process that is thoroughly onerous in terms of funds and time.
Then there’s the complete shutdown of space for political dissent – and even for not-so-political actions. Name me one other government that prosecutes a lone activist carrying a placard with Mr Smiley on it.
But like the TT matter, you say, what’s the big deal if you’re not into posting anything that might be remotely of public interest or that you’ll just stay clear of carrying any placards.
But here’s why it matters – and matters to you and your family.
The use of TT other than exclusively for Covid19 matters, the constriction of online space, the throttling of even the most benign of political dissent, the employment of defamation laws, the castigation of academics, just to cite a few examples, cast a long and pernicious shadow on Singaporeans’ psyche.
When people know they are being watched and sanctioned, self-censorship becomes the norm. It becomes baked into society’s culture.
And here’s when it gets really dangerous: We think and behave as if such censorship, whether state- or self-imposed, is not just normal but necessary.
a lot more at https://tinyurI.com/yyr9pqa2
