The contest for cyberspace had begun. Still, the Government started off, post-GE 2011, with attempts to engage its critics and online commentators. There were behind-the-scenes sessions over tea and dinner. The PM even opened the Istana and invited online personalities to visit. Bloggers’ views were sought by Government agencies, researchers and even its mainstream newspaper mouthpieces. There were few among the blogging community, however, who felt the Government was genuine in its so-called engagement attempts. Many whom this writer spoke to felt these tea sessions were more like lectures from ministers who seemed too eager to want to explain, sometimes even with powerpoint presentations, how right or correct government policies are. By 2012, however, the PAP Government had all but given up and threw in the towel. In its place were the old knuckleduster tactics of control – legal threats, attempts at discrediting its critics through its mouthpieces, and the introduction of new legislations. The Prime Minister, for example, issued a letter of demand to blogger Alex Au on the 4th day of the new year this year. It was the precursor to further legal threats or actions against several websites and individuals throughout the year, with the latest attempt to haul Mr Au to the courts for contempt of court charges by the Attorney General in November. The most significant manoeuvre, of course, was the introduction of new Internet regulations by the Media Development Authority (MDA) in June. It should be noted – with significance – that two ministers had failed to adequately explain the new legislations or new rules for operators of websites. When asked by The Online Citizen (TOC) why it has not been asked by the authorities to register, since it clearly fulfilled the requirements under the new rules, the reply from the MDA was simply: TOC does not qualify. When asked again, the same reply was offered: TOC does not qualify.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 12:58:31 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015