Singapore Bloggers Stage Internet 'Blackout'

Mohamad Fathi    4:24 PG    Isu Semasa   

A group of bloggers in Singapore are staging a 24-hour Internet blackout today to protest against a new regulation which forces "local news sites with substantial reach" to apply for a licence just like regular media. The protest group calling themselves FreeMyInternet, is being spearheaded by at least 32 social political sites which say that the new regulation will prevent free discourse.

The regulation, which came into effective on June 1, requires Singaporean news sites that report about the island and have "substantial reach" to apply for an individual licence. They will then come under the individual licensing regime and will have to fork out a performance bond of S$50,000 (RM123,775) and must comply with a take-down notice from authorities within 24 hours.

To read more about the regulations check out Singapore's Media Development Authority site at =>http://bit.ly/Zbvnbx

A Channel News Asia report also cited the nation's Communications and Information Minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahim as saying the rule may in future apply to overseas news sites reporting on Singapore. According to Free My Internet Facebook (www.facebook.com/FreeMyInternet), as of 3pm, over 130 websites and blogs have joined the movement. The sites started the black out protest at midnight and it is expected to end tonight at 11.59pm

via Channel News Asia