Digital Media Censorship Digital Media Censorship in Singaporein Singapore

An Individualized Study Options Project An Individualized Study Options Project by Wesley Phay Chun Wahby Wesley Phay Chun Wah

Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

Project ScopeProject Scope

Introduction to ProjectIntroduction to ProjectObjectives of the ProjectObjectives of the ProjectResearch StudyResearch StudySurvey QuestionnaireSurvey QuestionnaireAnalysis of Survey ResultsAnalysis of Survey ResultsConclusionConclusion

Introduction to Project:Introduction to Project:What is Digital Media Censorship?What is Digital Media Censorship?

The MICA censors The MICA censors inappropriate mediainappropriate media

Digital media refers to Digital media refers to websites, digital websites, digital videos/images, blogs, videos/images, blogs, podcasts, etc.podcasts, etc.

Undesirable content Undesirable content include: pornography, include: pornography, racial discrimination, racial discrimination, politically provocative politically provocative media, blood and goremedia, blood and gore

Introduction to Project (continued)Introduction to Project (continued)

Censorship can be for a variety of reasonsCensorship can be for a variety of reasonsLocal ISPs block high-profile sites such as Local ISPs block high-profile sites such as

PlayboyPlayboy, but very few sites are blacklisted, but very few sites are blacklistedFor example, 2 bloggers were jailed for For example, 2 bloggers were jailed for

posting racist comments on blogsposting racist comments on blogsSingaporean government also censors Singaporean government also censors

politically provocative media, such as politically provocative media, such as Singapore RebelSingapore Rebel by Martyn See by Martyn See

Objectives of the ProjectObjectives of the Project

3 Main Objectives3 Main ObjectivesTo find out more about Singapore To find out more about Singapore

government’s stand on digital media government’s stand on digital media censorshipcensorship

To find out what Year 2 Anglo-Chinese School To find out what Year 2 Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) students think about digital (Independent) students think about digital media censorshipmedia censorship

Raise awareness about the importance of Raise awareness about the importance of digital media censorship and educate digital media censorship and educate internet-users about the laws pertaining internet-users about the laws pertaining censorshipcensorship

Research StudyResearch Study

Research shows that MICA allows internet Research shows that MICA allows internet users to view digital content at their own users to view digital content at their own discretiondiscretion

However, distribution or online publication However, distribution or online publication of undesirable digital media is punishable of undesirable digital media is punishable by the lawby the law

Some Singaporeans feel that freedom of Some Singaporeans feel that freedom of speech should be allowedspeech should be allowed

SurveySurvey

I distributed about 100 survey forms and I distributed about 100 survey forms and received 81 responsesreceived 81 responses

Respondents are all Year 2 students of Respondents are all Year 2 students of Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

Thus survey only finds the opinion of Thus survey only finds the opinion of extremely narrow category of peopleextremely narrow category of people

QuestionnaireQuestionnaire Multiple-Choice Questions (from 1 – 8)Multiple-Choice Questions (from 1 – 8)

Are you aware of the current state of digital media censorship in Are you aware of the current state of digital media censorship in Singapore?Singapore?

Is Singapore’s stand on digital media too harsh/strict?Is Singapore’s stand on digital media too harsh/strict? Should Singaporeans have the right to view any digital media Should Singaporeans have the right to view any digital media

that they want?that they want? Should pornographic media be censored?Should pornographic media be censored? Should violence/gore in digital media be censored?Should violence/gore in digital media be censored? Should politically provocative media be censored?Should politically provocative media be censored? Should racist/discriminative media be censored?Should racist/discriminative media be censored? Should blogs with unsavoury content be censored?Should blogs with unsavoury content be censored?

Open-ended QuestionOpen-ended Question What do you think about the general state of digital media What do you think about the general state of digital media

censorship in Singapore? (e.g. stringency, censorship censorship in Singapore? (e.g. stringency, censorship standards)standards)

Survey ResultsSurvey Results

24

22

16

8

11

18

17

30

9

7

37

15

15

9

5

27

18

15

7

14

15

9

18

15

24

6

11

21

17

26

27

17

15

5

17

12

11

26

12

20

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Per

cen

tag

e o

f R

esp

on

den

ts

(Sam

ple

siz

e: 8

1)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Question Number

Media Censorship in Singapore: Survey Results

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Analysis of Survey ResultsAnalysis of Survey Results There is a need to increase awareness about the guidelines of There is a need to increase awareness about the guidelines of

digital media censorshipdigital media censorship About 43% felt that Singapore’s censorship is too strict, however About 43% felt that Singapore’s censorship is too strict, however

about 37% were neutral and 20% felt that Singapore’s current about 37% were neutral and 20% felt that Singapore’s current censorship is acceptablecensorship is acceptable

A majority 64% felt that they deserved the right to view any digital A majority 64% felt that they deserved the right to view any digital media that they wantmedia that they want

However, many respondents still felt that pornography and racist However, many respondents still felt that pornography and racist remarks should be censoredremarks should be censored

A large 32% were undecided whether blogs with unsavoury content A large 32% were undecided whether blogs with unsavoury content should be censored or notshould be censored or not

About 50% felt that violence and politically provocative media About 50% felt that violence and politically provocative media should not be censoredshould not be censored

Overall, according to statistics and open-ended responses, Overall, according to statistics and open-ended responses, respondents felt that digital media censorship in Singapore is too respondents felt that digital media censorship in Singapore is too strict.strict.

ConclusionConclusion

There is a need to raise awareness about There is a need to raise awareness about digital media censorshipdigital media censorship to prevent errant internet users from getting to prevent errant internet users from getting

into trouble with the lawinto trouble with the lawRespondents felt that the censorship Respondents felt that the censorship

standards were too strictstandards were too strictneed more freedom of speechneed more freedom of speech

The EndThe End

Thank you for listening.Thank you for listening.

Time for the Q&A session.Time for the Q&A session.