Singapore has launched a brand new invoice referred to as the On-line Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Invoice that goals to carry social media platforms accountable for the dangerous content material which might be served to customers.
The invoice, which might be added to the Broadcasting Act, will high-quality platform firms like Meta (the proprietor of Fb and Instagram), TikTok and Twitter for as much as SGD$1 million or block their providers.
Singapore’s Infocomm Media Improvement Authority (IMDA) may also have the ability to situation orders to dam or take down posts that advocate suicide, self-harm, little one sexual exploitation, terrorism and supplies which will incite racial or spiritual tensions or pose a threat to public well being.
Simply final week, Reuters reported that manufacturers like Dyson, Mazda, Forbes and PBS Children suspended their campaigns with Twitter as a result of their advertisements appeared alongside tweets selling little one pornography with phrases associated to “rape” and hyperlinks to the exploitative materials.
“Whereas some on-line providers have made efforts to handle dangerous content material, the prevalence of dangerous on-line content material stays a priority, given the excessive degree of digital penetration and pervasive utilization of on-line providers amongst Singapore customers, together with kids,” The Ministry of Communications and Info (MCI) mentioned.
Spokespeople for TikTok and YouTube advised Marketing campaign Asia-Pacific it shared the Singapore authorities’s dedication to combatting on-line harms.
“Consumer security is our high precedence, and now we have made each effort to create a protected on-line area that prioritizes age-appropriate experiences. We stay up for furthering our work to boost security and privateness throughout our product, insurance policies and expertise that we deploy in order that our group can safely create, share, and revel in artistic and entertaining content material on our app,” the TikTok spokesperson mentioned.
“We admire the consultative strategy led by the Singapore authorities concerning the On-line Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Invoice,” added a YouTube spokesperson. “Whereas we’re nonetheless reviewing the draft laws, we stay up for persevering with working intently with all events concerned in offering Singapore netizens a safer on-line expertise.”
Meta and Twitter didn’t reply to queries by Marketing campaign Asia-Pacific on the time of publishing. The article might be up to date after they have responded.