A series of recent legal warnings over online content in Singapore is raising new debate about the limits of public discourse in its increasingly-boisterous blogosphere.
Although Singapore has long had a reputation for limited press freedoms, a thriving online media market has emerged recently, with blogs and other websites taking shots at elected officials and stirring up debate on a range of social and political issues in the wealthy city-state. The power of such sites was evident during national elections last year, when analysts say blogs provided a new outlet for debate challenging the ruling People’s Action Party, which received its lowest vote share – 60% – since the country’s independence.
But in recent weeks, lawyers acting on behalf of key Singapore leaders have delivered sharp legal warnings to dissenting blogs, saying the blogs published untruths and defamatory comments. Although editors of the blogs have retracted the posts and in some cases apologized, academics have said the cases nevertheless could have a chilling effect on writers at a time when they’re just beginning to enjoy new freedoms following years of restrictions defended by the government as necessary for maintaining social stability. Full story...
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Although Singapore has long had a reputation for limited press freedoms, a thriving online media market has emerged recently, with blogs and other websites taking shots at elected officials and stirring up debate on a range of social and political issues in the wealthy city-state. The power of such sites was evident during national elections last year, when analysts say blogs provided a new outlet for debate challenging the ruling People’s Action Party, which received its lowest vote share – 60% – since the country’s independence.
But in recent weeks, lawyers acting on behalf of key Singapore leaders have delivered sharp legal warnings to dissenting blogs, saying the blogs published untruths and defamatory comments. Although editors of the blogs have retracted the posts and in some cases apologized, academics have said the cases nevertheless could have a chilling effect on writers at a time when they’re just beginning to enjoy new freedoms following years of restrictions defended by the government as necessary for maintaining social stability. Full story...
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