P5 - internet & political elections

8/14/2019 P5 - internet & political elections

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Without a doubt, internet is inseparablefrom our daily life activities.

It is a widely used tool for

communication everywhere and evennow, in politics.

Internet & Political Election

An impactful form of communication,especially with the fast advancement

in technology.


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Social networking is growing at rapidpace

Pod casting and video streaming are moreaccessible and encouraged with local websites

such as podcast.sgMDA is skewed towards self-regulationfor the use of the Internet

Blogs are emerging with a growing

community of educated individualswith growing interest in Singaporepolitics


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The positive list can be found under theElection Advertising Regulations under theParliament Election Acthttp://www.elections.gov.sg/agc/parliamentarySubLeg3.

Under Division 1, online activities stretches tothe usage of chat rooms and discussionforums only3rd April 2006, the positive list will not

be amended to include other forms ofpublishing such as pod casting andvideo streaming
http://www.elections.gov.sg/agc/parliamentarySubLeg3.htmhttp://www.elections.gov.sg/agc/parliamentarySubLeg3.htm


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Election Advertising under Sections 78A. (1)(a)(b)

Definitions:- Election Advertising - can refer to anymaterial that can reasonably be regarded as

intended to promote or procure electoral success

Election Period - beginning with the day thewrit of election is issued by the President for anelection and ending with the close of all polling

stations on polling day.

Relevant Persons- everypersons/ group of persons (otherthan candidates, political partiesand election agents) who

publishes anything on the Internet.


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Case Study: Think Centre

Think Centre wrote a letter to Robin Chan, Head ofElections Department requesting the ElectionsDepartment to clarify specific areas of the PEAregulations.

10th October2001

(9 day interval)

19th October2001 (5:11pm)

22nd October2001

Think Centre was ordered to remove all materialsthat can be construed as election advertising by11pm the same day, otherwise they will becommitting an offence under 78A(2) of the PEA.

A 2nd response was receivedstating that the PEA (ElectionAdvertising) was gazetted on 17thOctober 2001 and that ThinkCentre, being a registered political

website, must comply.

Think Centre continues with their daily operations.


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Case Study Analysis: Think Centre

This instance casts doubts on the PEAs purpose of theguidelines:

Is it to prosecute parties who have committed anoffence during the political elections period?

Or to safeguard the publics interest by shielding

them from any forms of online election advertisingwhich may waver the publics voting interests.

Note that this incident took place between 10th 23rdOctober 2001

which the GE was held on 3rd November 2001, which wasahead of the 9-day election period. No details were givento which articles had to be removed.

Eg: past archives of comments given prior thecampaign period have to be removed, etc.


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Case Study: Sintercom

Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) implemented

theClass Licence Scheme and contacted Sintercom toregister their forums with the SBA and signing adeclaration to claim full responsibility of the website,including all content.

12th July 1996

5th July 2001

SBA wrote once again to request that Sintercom beregistered under the Class License Scheme of theBroadcasting Act. Sensing that SBA do not want tofurther tussle with regards to this issue, Tan filed out

and submitted the registration forms making himpersonally responsible for the content of the website.Tan closed down the website shortlyafter as he feels he has ran out ofoptions after a few correspondencewith the authorities. One week after,

Sintercom came back as NewSintercom hosted on Geocities in based

Sintercoms Tan Chong Kee reasoned that theregistration was not necessary, and after which SBA

retracted the requirement for Sintercom to beregistered.


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Case Study Analysis:Sintercom

Why did SBA retract their requirement forSintercom to register, after they contactedSintercom?

Does it mean hosting Sintercom out ofSingapore is not a breach of the ClassLicence Scheme?

Despite MICA's direction on a 'light touch'internet regulatory system, certain area suchas politics are still iron clad and is heavily

regulated.


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The MDA encourages industry self-regulation andpublic education efforts to complement its light-touchregulatory approach.

It is still unknown whether Election Department will

take the stand of MDAs approach or will theParliamentary Elections Act be revised to catch upwith the rapidly evolving technology and the onlinecommunities.

To safeguard the voting publics interest (withregards to being swayed by public opinion leaderssuch as web sites discussing political opinions andissues), doesnt seem like the PEA will be revised inthe near future.

Deregulation of the internet will be gradual.


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The Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts(MICA) is well aware of the fact that Internet and newmedia technology have evolved by leaps and bounds sincewe introduced our light-touch approach in 1996. Back then,MICA had recognised the potential growth and impact ofthe Internet, and the tremendous opportunities andbenefits that it will bring to all of us. We were also wary of itsnegative aspects.

"To keep up with the fast-evolving new media landscape,we have been reviewing our light-touch approach and

are considering how we could take a lighter touch approach.We have appointed the Advisory Council on the Impact ofNew Media on Society (AIMS) in April last year to study thenew media and how best to refine our regulatoryframework."


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Thank you!

Done by:Lynn TanMatthewLimSheila

WatyDaniel


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P5 - internet & political elections