MDA wants $50,000.00 from Sam?

[scroobal]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

99.999% of the guys in the forum have nothing to fear. It is not an offence, a crime or a morally unethical act to make critical comments about the govt or express your dislike for the govt. It is also not act of bravery or heroism to openly make critical comments of the govt. If you had some level of education you would realise that.

From 1999 to 2013, for over 13 years there are probably 4 guys that are of concern to the powers that be in view of their knowledge and access to classified and or unpleasant information are a threat. I did note that these few have been very careful by not contravening the OSA, not associating with elements that are subversive to the state which is not the same as the govt.

Anyone who understands this issue and aware of the recent concerns of the authorities know that the intended target is Yahoo.sg. Like it or not Yahoo.sg has become a neutral or independent validation/confirmation site for rumours, information or news that are politically and socially sensitive. Of 10 sites, 9 are linked to the government. Prior to the emergence of Yahoo.sg, all other sites are with govt linked, govt controlled or critical of the govt. The only exception being Reuters which after a period of reporting focused on SIngapore Politics has toned down dramatically. Any one remember the young and brave Singapore Reuters reporter who put the old man in his place.

Interesting times.

 

[Simbian]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

99.999% of the guys in the forum have nothing to fear. It is not an offence, a crime or a morally unethical act to make critical comments about the govt or express your dislike for the govt. It is also not act of bravery or heroism to openly make critical comments of the govt. If you had some level of education you would realise that.

From 1999 to 2013, for over 13 years there are probably 4 guys that are of concern to the powers that be in view of their knowledge and access to classified and or unpleasant information are a threat. I did note that these few have been very careful by not contravening the OSA, not associating with elements that are subversive to the state which is not the same as the govt.

Anyone who understands this issue and aware of the recent concerns of the authorities know that the intended target is Yahoo.sg. Like it or not Yahoo.sg has become a neutral or independent validation/confirmation site for rumours, information or news that are politically and socially sensitive. Of 10 sites, 9 are linked to the government. Prior to the emergence of Yahoo.sg, all other sites are with govt linked, govt controlled or critical of the govt. The only exception being Reuters which after a period of reporting focused on SIngapore Politics has toned down dramatically. Any one remember the young and brave Singapore Reuters reporter who put the old man in his place.

Interesting times.

I agree this is nothing more than a measure to cow the most prominent online sites into becoming more friendly to the establishment. However, I am highly skeptical that it will end well. What worked in the past might not worked in the present since the climate now is very, very different.

Now it all depends on who is making the decisions at Yahoo SG, which puts into perspective how foolish this move will be - like in soccer, you don't really want to pump in a risky long ball, give the ball away to the opposition and allow him to play it. The government is basically betting that organisation will cave. I hope MDA is ready for the scenario where Yahoo SG and the rest will band together, point and laugh at the MDA and turn it into a game of chicken.

 

[tonychat]

Sinkie sinkie....a law just pass and sinkie fear without much brain thought...please lah...

Since sinkie govt like to do this shit..I will create a new site specifically for this and middle finger the sinkie PAP govt.

 

[ZorrorroZ]

Sinkie sinkie....a law just pass and sinkie fear without much brain thought...please lah...

Since sinkie govt like to do this shit..I will create a new site specifically for this and middle finger the sinkie PAP govt.

Simisai Also Licence

http://simisaialsolicence.tumblr.com/

Trains that break down more than 5 times will be required to apply for a WTFMRTBREAKDOWNAGAIN Licence.​

 

[sickpuppy]

What to do can't blame him most of his kind use their ass to think rather than his brain. Did he ever consider how to go about collecting the $ and if those sites bother if SG blocked them? Think about it if their viewership is so popular so what if a small country with so few viewers get blocked. The end results its the people that get affected.

 

[enterprise2]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

99.999% of the guys in the forum have nothing to fear. It is not an offence, a crime or a morally unethical act to make critical comments about the govt or express your dislike for the govt. It is also not act of bravery or heroism to openly make critical comments of the govt. If you had some level of education you would realise that.

From 1999 to 2013, for over 13 years there are probably 4 guys that are of concern to the powers that be in view of their knowledge and access to classified and or unpleasant information are a threat. I did note that these few have been very careful by not contravening the OSA, not associating with elements that are subversive to the state which is not the same as the govt.

Anyone who understands this issue and aware of the recent concerns of the authorities know that the intended target is Yahoo.sg. Like it or not Yahoo.sg has become a neutral or independent validation/confirmation site for rumours, information or news that are politically and socially sensitive. Of 10 sites, 9 are linked to the government. Prior to the emergence of Yahoo.sg, all other sites are with govt linked, govt controlled or critical of the govt. The only exception being Reuters which after a period of reporting focused on SIngapore Politics has toned down dramatically. Any one remember the young and brave Singapore Reuters reporter who put the old man in his place.

Interesting times.

Yeah, I like Yahoo news and I trust the news there than our own shitty times. However if because of this, Yahoo tone down or worst become more like shitty times.....then....its a pity!! We cannot allow them to win!

 

[indig10]

Nothing to do with Yahoo. Everything to do with consolidating their ability to determine what is printed, thereby ensuring that they have a hold on what is communicated to Singaporeans and how they should therefore think.

It's purely about controlling the thinking of Singaporeans. That is the end-goal and Yahoo is not the target.

99.999% of the guys in the forum have nothing to fear. It is not an offence, a crime or a morally unethical act to make critical comments about the govt or express your dislike for the govt. It is also not act of bravery or heroism to openly make critical comments of the govt. If you had some level of education you would realise that.

From 1999 to 2013, for over 13 years there are probably 4 guys that are of concern to the powers that be in view of their knowledge and access to classified and or unpleasant information are a threat. I did note that these few have been very careful by not contravening the OSA, not associating with elements that are subversive to the state which is not the same as the govt.

Anyone who understands this issue and aware of the recent concerns of the authorities know that the intended target is Yahoo.sg. Like it or not Yahoo.sg has become a neutral or independent validation/confirmation site for rumours, information or news that are politically and socially sensitive. Of 10 sites, 9 are linked to the government. Prior to the emergence of Yahoo.sg, all other sites are with govt linked, govt controlled or critical of the govt. The only exception being Reuters which after a period of reporting focused on SIngapore Politics has toned down dramatically. Any one remember the young and brave Singapore Reuters reporter who put the old man in his place.

Interesting times.

 

[AntiPAPunk]

It's purely about controlling the thinking of Singaporeans.

Wow. As good as telling people what to do, what they should see and read.

Time to HOOT Ah! Sounds familiar?

 

[scroobal]

And Yahoo stood out. There have been no other significant presence in this space for the last 3 years. You don't roll out something like that when 9 of the 10 are within your sphere of control. Nobody sits in the office and rolls out something unless there is something to redress.

Go to Yahoo.sg, home page, look at the trend tracker chosen, look at the links to websites and news based on hot topic. See Darine Ko's name there. No other entities has this feature which is a common feature.

During PE2011, this would have Patrick Tan's name on it and the links to all websites discusssing the topic. SPH, Mediacorp net of control would been breached.

Tell me if Yahoo was not there, would they roll this out?

Nothing to do with Yahoo. Everything to do with consolidating their ability to determine what is printed, thereby ensuring that they have a hold on what is communicated to Singaporeans and how they should therefore think.

It's purely about controlling the thinking of Singaporeans. That is the end-goal and Yahoo is not the target.

 

[swampfire]

The pappies don't just block (several) porn sites, they also block religious sites.

Here's one of them:

chick.com

i used to visit chick.com. i found them to be slanderous and offensive towards practically every other religion besides christianity. Even roman catholicism got slammed.

the pap can do whatever they want, including hurting sporeans in nearly every aspect of our lives. they are a bunch of small minded and scared individuals. come ge2016 and every subsequent elections, sporeans will hurt them back. they will eventually pay, karma is a fucking bitch.

 

[scroobal]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

I have been watching Yahoo for sometime and they are objective and neutral to avoid confrontation. And as news organisation there is no need to lean on any side. Just report facts. I am actually impressed by their ability to cover local news to quite a depth.

I am sure there are people like me that assumed that a news portal like Yahoo would be secondary but their ability to cover news has been encouraging.

Now it all depends on who is making the decisions at Yahoo SG, which puts into perspective how foolish this move will be - like in soccer, you don't really want to pump in a risky long ball, give the ball away to the opposition and allow him to play it. The government is basically betting that organisation will cave. I hope MDA is ready for the scenario where Yahoo SG and the rest will band together, point and laugh at the MDA and turn it into a game of chicken.

 

[Leongsam]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

I have been watching Yahoo for sometime and they are objective and neutral to avoid confrontation. And as news organisation there is no need to lean on any side. Just report facts. I am actually impressed by their ability to cover local news to quite a depth.

What if Yahoo simply refuses to dance to this tune? What would the MDA response be?

 

[mollusk]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

What if Yahoo simply refuses to dance to this tune? What would the MDA response be?

Yakoob and fren will fine Yahoo 200K plus 3 year imprisonment.

 

[Leongsam]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

Yakoob and fren will fine Yahoo 200K plus 3 year imprisonment.

Just who in Yahoo will be fined and how will whoever they want to go after be snared if they operate from outside the jurisdiction of MDA?

 

[mollusk]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

Just who in Yahoo will be fined and how will whoever they want to go after be snared if they operate from outside the jurisdiction of MDA?

This part, I'm unable to answer. :o:(

 

[paulhong]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

When did Yahoo rise to prominence? I always thought that Yahoo is a half dead search engine.

 

[Leongsam]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

When did Yahoo rise to prominence? I always thought that Yahoo is a half dead search engine.

It's currently worth :

Yahoo

<tbody> [TD="align: center"] Enterprise Value

=

25.73 B

<tbody>

[TD="align: center"] = [/TD]
[TD="align: center"] Market Cap + Debt
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"] -
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"] Cash
[/TD]

</tbody>

[/TD]

</tbody>

How much are you worth and how dead are you?

 

[zhihau]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

Interesting times.

good to note that pensioners have more to lose, those ex-civil servants not on pension scheme... interesting times ahead indeed :p:p:p

 

[COW flu]

Heng Ah! Sammyboy.Com is not a news site PAP CB wants to close TR AGAIN

Heng Ah! Sammyboy is not a site reporting SG news.

Or else kenna the new CB PAP law, got to stick a license up the ass and pay S$50000 deposit, if they are not happy then they eat your deposit.

CB!

 

[scroobal]

Re: New licensing scheme for news websites that reach 50,000 people a month

Yahoo has a country presence and has local staff. If it had not, this would not have been rolled out. Just prior to GE2011, the govt implemented the cooling-off day on the eve of polling. They also banned elections exit polls. Now this. The idea is that no event that is adverse to the current govt is published that may influence the outcome of the poll without the govt attempting to give their own spin, block it or deny it. Note the 24 hrs period in all these elements.

At stake is not only the proverbial 30% of swing votes but also includes the 30% of their own supporters who may not be swayed by known and respected govt critics such ad Alex Au and company but maybe swayed by Yahoo which has built credibility by their objective and neutral form of reporting.

The reason I mentioned Patrick Tan is that end result was 35% and for head of state that is highly embarrassing. They cannot afford to have another Patrick Tan.

This govt is also careful that it is not seen to be unfairly targeting the foreign press but $50k per incident and a couple over time paints a picture of non-compliance and the annual licensing issues become contentious. Yahoo will also be extra-careful and will now seek confirmation or provide an opportunity for a govt spokesman to say his piece.

At the end of the day, Yahoo is a commercial organisation and there will be a paint point after which they would focus on non-contentious issue - become high level stomp.

You cannot control blogs, forums and the internet but you can control individuals and entities that on your soil.

What if Yahoo simply refuses to dance to this tune? What would the MDA response be?