#FreeMyInternet: When Singaporean bloggers fight back

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Singapore computer users
Singapore computer users

Singapore blogging community just launched called a new campaign called #FreeMyInternet to protest against the new licensing imposed by local authority. The new regulations requires  “online news sites” to put up a “performance bond” of $50,000 and to remove content that is in breach of MDA (Media Development Authority) standards within 24 hours. The new license will also affect local bloggers if they write about Singapore’s news and current affair at least once a week and have at least 50,000 monthly unique visitors. [Checkout my fellow ex-Yahoos Siew Kum Hong’s post on why Singapore’s crackdown on online news reporting is a mistake.]

The campaign’s initiator asked local bloggers to join them in an online blackout by closing their own blog for 24 hours, from Thursday 6 June, 0001 hrs to 6 June, 2359 hrs. “When you reopen your blog, write your account of the protest, about the new regulations and censorship, or anything related to media freedom in Singapore,” the initiator said in a statement. They also asked online community to sign a petition to call for the Ministry of Communications and Information to completely withdraw the licensing regime.

They will also invite people to attend the protest in June 8, 4.00pm – 7.00pm located in Speaker Corner, Hong Lim Park.

The following are the campaign initiators:

Leong Sze Hian http://leongszehian.com/
Andrew Loh http://publichouse.sg/
Ravi Philemon http://www.raviphilemon.net/
Kumaran Pillai http://sgvoize.wordpress.com/
Terry Xu http://theonlinecitizen.com/
Richard Wan http://www.tremeritus.com/
Choo Zheng Xi http://theonlinecitizen.com/
Rachel Zeng http://rachelzeng.wordpress.com/
Roy Ngerng http://thehearttruths.com/
Kirsten Han http://spuddings.net/
Gilbert Goh http://www.transitioning.org/
Lynn Lee http://www.lianainfilms.com/
Biddy Low http://publichouse.sg/
Lim Han Thon http://publichouse.sg/
Martyn See http://singaporerebel.blogspot.sg/
Howard Lee http://theonlinecitizen.com/
Elaine Ee http://publichouse.sg/
Joshua Chiang http://facebook.com/joshuafly
Jeraldine Phneah http://theonlinecitizen.com
Donaldson Tan http://newasiarepublic.com
Stephanie Chok http://littlemskaypoh.wordpress.com
Jolovan Wham http://www.workfairsingapore.wordpress.com
Ng E-Jay http://www.sgpolitics.net
Siew Kum Hong http://siewkumhong.blogspot.sg/
Darryl Kang http://blog.dk.sg
Daniel Yap http://doulosyap.wordpress.com/
Jean Chong http://www.sayoni.com
Benjamin Cheah http://www.benjamincheah.wordpress.com/
Theodore Lee http://www.mrbrown.com
Benjamin Lee http://miyagi.sg
Illusio http://akikonomu.blogspot.com
Lee Xian Jie http://hachisu.com.sg
Damien Chng http://secondchances.asia/
Priscilla Chia http://secondchances.asia/

[Photo credit]

5 COMMENTS

  1. it’s hard living in singapore.the government there like to suffocate its own people.and for some living in singapore feel like a paradise. I think those people that were against MDA licensing should just renounce their singaporean citizenship and become indonesian instead to be able to enjoy press freedom. :-P

  2. Hi there I am so happy I found your weblog, I really found you by accident, while I was researching on Aol for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a tremendous post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the excellent work.

  3. Is this really happening in this day and age?! This is an outrage, why can’t the people band together and fight back? Is the government that powerful?

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