Posted on 06/07/2013 10:48:59 PM PDT by TexGrill
SINGAPORE – Human Rights Watch urged Singapore on Friday to drop new licensing rules for news websites, saying the “onerous” regulations would limit access to independent media.
The new rules, which require popular news websites to obtain an annual license, will discourage independent reporting and curb free expression in online communities, the US-based watchdog said in a statement.
Volunteer-run blogs focusing on social and political issues including poverty and immigration have gained popularity as an alternative source of news and opinion in Singapore, where the mainstream media is widely seen as pro-government.
These blogs and other online social media sites have also been used by citizens to vent their frustrations and criticisms of government policies, often setting the tone for political debate in a country governed by strict laws against dissent.
“The Singaporean government should withdraw an onerous new licensing requirement for online news sites,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement.
Cynthia Wong, the organization’s senior Internet researcher, added: “Singapore’s new licensing requirement casts a chill over the city-state’s robust and free-wheeling online communities, and will clearly limit Singaporeans’ access to independent media."
(Excerpt) Read more at technology.inquirer.net ...
At least if you’re not allowed on the internet, the government can’t monitor your usage and then have your Instagram account leaked to Mother Jones.
“Volunteer-run blogs focusing on social and political issues including poverty and immigration have gained popularity as an alternative source of news and opinion in Singapore, where the mainstream media is widely seen as pro-government. “
(cough) ;) sounds familiar
Yes, by all means - let’s make clean, crime-free Singapore more like sh*t hole America.
“Human Rights Watch urged Singapore on Friday to drop new licensing rules for news websites, saying the “onerous” regulations would limit access to independent media.”
Human Rights Watch is a Soros conglomerate - he gave them a few hundred million a couple of years ago - maybe more since.
It looks like the Soros internat army were moving in with their social justice disruptive sites. This law is just required for new sites.
That explains alot. I met some of these HRW folks in China. Some of them are idiots. When they first met me they assumed I was a Liberal Democrat in China. They didn’t ask about my political views and assumed all Americans in China are Democrats. They thought I sounded smart so one day, I get a call from a local TV station in Beijing. They needed an American to talk about Hillary Clinton (this was a time she Secretary of State) and HRW member recommended me. This would be my first time on TV and I’m a Texas die-hard Republican, so I said yes. I go to the studio, it’s broadcast live and the first question they ask: “so what do you really think about Hillary Clinton?” Well, I pulled no punches and blasted her. The TV show enjoyed its highest ratings for the year, but for some reason I never saw the HRW folks again.
What a great story. I wouldn’t have the nerve to go live on TV even if it was a chance to bash her publicly - good for you. I didn’t realize Singapore was so full of rats. :)
Send me an email and I’ll send the video link. Actually, I’m in China not Singapore. So it takes even more courage to go on TV and just imagine the US State Department’s reaction after my appearance. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.
“Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim...”
Hmmm, just who’s running the show there, now?
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