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[h=2]The government does not track netizens![/h]
October 11th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
I’m writing in response to the article: http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/10/11/my-friend-jane-is-angry-and-worried.
To the author and everyone,
The govt does not track people reading these news. There are a million views on this website every day.
Because state law enforcement agencies do not have that kind of manpower and resources to deal with such large scale, they are mainly concerned about people who maintain a blog or website that preaches dangerous or radical views that border on racism or other anti-social activities like terrorism.
Websites like TREmeritus or Online citizens are not dangerous or radical websites.
They are not worried about some small fry readers who are hundreds of thousands or millions who express views on the internet daily. THEY ARE NOT Interested IN THE ORDINARY CITIZENS IN THE STREET. Things are still fair and square in Singapore governed by RULE OF LAW. You have to be someone of calibre to catch their attentions.
The primary reason why state law enforcement agencies monitor the internet is not due to critical views about the govt performance or policies but because of scams, security threats, bomb hoaxes or seditious activities. If any public servant or minister feels that he or she has been defamed, they take up a defamation suit against the accuser and law enforcement will investigate that complaint made to them to see if the laws have been broken. Further commencements of actions will be taken by the enforcement agencies as necessary.
Most of these cases are fought in the court. If there was any controversy surrounding past defamation cases, it is solely the judgement and performance of the court, the complainant, the accused as well as public perceptions.
Freedom of speech here in Singapore is given to you so long as you talk about economical or social policies of the govt and only stick to that. It is not an offense to criticize a civil servant, minister or MP in parliament due to his or her poor performance in office but it is an offence to defame them. For example, you accuse them of a crime or scandal without the support of any evidence. If you highlight flaws or shortcomings, that is NOT ILLEGAL BY ANY LAW. But seditious preaching, racism, bomb hoaxes or other scams or illicit activities are illegal.
There are many people who still seem to believe (at least from my observations) that they do not have any power or are simply just too afraid to speak up due to this kind of false rumours being spread around.
Example: http://i-came-i-saw-i-solved-it.blogspot.sg
The above is a good example of a website that is liable for a defamation suit.
Let me remind all that spreading false rumours about government tracking people for the wrong political, partisan or personal reasons is implying abuse of power by the authority and this itself is liable for defamation.
If someone were to say that to you, please take a photograph of the person and pass it to the police, because this person is a highly dangerous individual out to create mischief and paranoia. Under Singapore law, the transmission of false messages especially meant to generate unnecessary public alarm, fear and panic in the community is an offence.
Hope this clears up the misconceptions.
.
Former Policeman
I’m writing in response to the article: http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/10/11/my-friend-jane-is-angry-and-worried.To the author and everyone,
The govt does not track people reading these news. There are a million views on this website every day.
Because state law enforcement agencies do not have that kind of manpower and resources to deal with such large scale, they are mainly concerned about people who maintain a blog or website that preaches dangerous or radical views that border on racism or other anti-social activities like terrorism.
Websites like TREmeritus or Online citizens are not dangerous or radical websites.
They are not worried about some small fry readers who are hundreds of thousands or millions who express views on the internet daily. THEY ARE NOT Interested IN THE ORDINARY CITIZENS IN THE STREET. Things are still fair and square in Singapore governed by RULE OF LAW. You have to be someone of calibre to catch their attentions.
The primary reason why state law enforcement agencies monitor the internet is not due to critical views about the govt performance or policies but because of scams, security threats, bomb hoaxes or seditious activities. If any public servant or minister feels that he or she has been defamed, they take up a defamation suit against the accuser and law enforcement will investigate that complaint made to them to see if the laws have been broken. Further commencements of actions will be taken by the enforcement agencies as necessary.
Most of these cases are fought in the court. If there was any controversy surrounding past defamation cases, it is solely the judgement and performance of the court, the complainant, the accused as well as public perceptions.
Freedom of speech here in Singapore is given to you so long as you talk about economical or social policies of the govt and only stick to that. It is not an offense to criticize a civil servant, minister or MP in parliament due to his or her poor performance in office but it is an offence to defame them. For example, you accuse them of a crime or scandal without the support of any evidence. If you highlight flaws or shortcomings, that is NOT ILLEGAL BY ANY LAW. But seditious preaching, racism, bomb hoaxes or other scams or illicit activities are illegal.
There are many people who still seem to believe (at least from my observations) that they do not have any power or are simply just too afraid to speak up due to this kind of false rumours being spread around.
Example: http://i-came-i-saw-i-solved-it.blogspot.sg
The above is a good example of a website that is liable for a defamation suit.
Let me remind all that spreading false rumours about government tracking people for the wrong political, partisan or personal reasons is implying abuse of power by the authority and this itself is liable for defamation.
If someone were to say that to you, please take a photograph of the person and pass it to the police, because this person is a highly dangerous individual out to create mischief and paranoia. Under Singapore law, the transmission of false messages especially meant to generate unnecessary public alarm, fear and panic in the community is an offence.
Hope this clears up the misconceptions.
.
Former Policeman
