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A keyboard is placed in front of a displayed Telegram logo. (Illustration: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic)
22 Nov 2023 04:57PM (Updated: 22 Nov 2023 05:14PM)
SINGAPORE: Messaging app Telegram has not responded to requests by the Singapore Police Force to remove access to accounts sharing sexually explicit content, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling in parliament on Wednesday (Nov 22).
Ms Sun told the House that there has nevertheless “recently been some progress in our engagement with Telegram”, and that the government will continue to work with online platforms to better protect Singapore users from harmful content.
Ms Sun was addressing a parliamentary question filed by MP Nadia Samdin (PAP-Ang Mo Kio), who asked about the current measures in place to tackle a rising number of Telegram channels selling nonconsensual and illegally obtained sexually explicit material.
Ms Nadia cited the SG Nasi Lemak chat group on Telegram as an example. At its peak in 2019, it had more than 44,000 members accessing obscene material and discussing sexual matters there.
Ms Nadia also asked about the government’s assessment of its enforcement system’s current ability to tackle and deter such crimes in a timely way, and what more can be done in working with online platforms to prevent reoccurrences.
The online platform Telegram has, to date, not responded to police requests to remove access to accounts that disseminate sexually explicit materials, though “some progress” has recently been made in engaging it on… the issue. Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said this in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 22). She was replying to an MP’s question on what is being done to tackle the rising number of Telegram channels selling non-consensual and illegally obtained sexually explicit materials. Ms Sun said the effectiveness of enforcement depends on the responsiveness of the online service. She said Singapore has updated its laws, such as by introducing the Online Criminal Harms Act this year. When it takes effect progressively from the first quarter of next year, the police can issue a disabling direction to online platforms such as Telegram to prevent materials being accessed by Singapore users, and it will be an offence not to comply. Access-blocking, app removal or service restriction orders can also be issued to Internet service providers to restrict access to the platform. The Code of Practice for Online Safety, which took effect in July this year, also requires six designated social media services with significant reach or impact to put in place systems to minimise exposure to harmful content for users in Singapore. Ms Sun said the authorities periodically review the list to see if other services, such as Telegram, need to be added. see more
“The police take a very serious view of such offences, and have taken firm action against the perpetrators in cases which had come to their attention,” she added.
In the case of the SG Nasi Lemak chat group, four men have been prosecuted in court. They were either administrators or members of the group.
The government has also updated its laws to deal with the online dissemination of such content, Ms Sun said. The Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA), which was passed in parliament in July, will be “operationalised progressively” from the first quarter of next year, Ms Sun added.
The police will then be able to issue a disabling direction to online platforms, such as Telegram, to prevent non-consensual and illegally obtained sexually explicit material on these platforms from being accessed by Singapore users.
Platforms that do not comply with these directions will be breaking the law, said Ms Sun.
In these instances, the competent authority in charge of administering OCHA can also issue an access blocking order, app removal order or service restriction order to the internet service providers or app stores, to restrict access to the online service provided by the platform, or part of the online service, to prevent the criminal activity and content from being accessed by people in Singapore.
“Online platforms also have a responsibility to proactively curb the spread of harmful online content and to ensure that their services are safe for their users,” Ms Sun added.
The Code of Practice for Online Safety, which took effect on Jul 18, requires designated social media services with significant reach or impact to put in place systems and processes to minimise exposure to harmful content for users in Singapore.
Singapore users can report harmful content to the designated services for appropriate action to be taken.
There are currently six designated services: Facebook, fuckwarezone, Instagram, TikTok, X – formerly known as Twitter – and YouTube.
Ms Sun added that the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will “periodically review the need to designate other social media services with significant reach and impact as necessary”, including Telegram.
“The effectiveness of our enforcement system depends on the responsiveness of the online services. To date, Telegram has not responded to police’s requests to remove access to accounts disseminating sexually explicit materials,” she said.
“However, there has recently been some progress in our engagement with Telegram. We will continue to work with them, and other online platforms, to better protect Singapore users from harmful content.”
Two weeks ago, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in a written parliamentary response that Telegram has also similarly not responded to the police’s requests to remove suspected scam accounts and posts on the platform.
Acknowledging the importance of creating a respectful culture between males and females from an early age, Ms Sun gave examples from the Ministry of Education’s character and citizenship education classes where “students are taught to respect all persons regardless of race, language, religion, gender and age”.
Most Institutes of Higher Learning have also put in place similarly compulsory modules on respectful and appropriate behaviour, with the remaining institutes working to introduce such modules, said Ms Sun.
MP Lim Biow Chuan (PAP-Mountbatten) then cited a recent CNA article that explored the dangers of underage minors in Singapore going on popular dating applications such as Tinder, OkCupid and Grindr.
Mr Lim asked if the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would consider implementing regulations to stop these apps from “targeting minors or vulnerable young children from accessing the apps”.
“Would MHA consider requiring these app owners to require members signing up to use their Singpass? This will make sure that those who are minors would not be able to sign up for such apps,” Mr Lim added.
In response, Ms Sun asked Mr Lim to file a separate parliamentary question since it comes under the purview of IMDA and the Ministry of Communications and Information.
In the meantime, she noted that under the Code of Practice for Online Safety, the question of age verification on apps and whether certain apps should be accessible to certain age groups is “a conversation that IMDA is having with the platforms”.
“But in the actual execution and what the IMDA can do about it, and how they can hold these platforms accountable - it would be through the amended Broadcasting Act as well as the Code of Practice for Online Safety,” Ms Sun added.
Singapore
Telegram unresponsive to Singapore police’s requests to remove accounts sharing sexually explicit content
Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling also addressed a question on whether Singpass should be used for age verification on dating applications, following a CNA article on the dangers of minors accessing such apps.
SINGAPORE: Messaging app Telegram has not responded to requests by the Singapore Police Force to remove access to accounts sharing sexually explicit content, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling in parliament on Wednesday (Nov 22).
Ms Sun told the House that there has nevertheless “recently been some progress in our engagement with Telegram”, and that the government will continue to work with online platforms to better protect Singapore users from harmful content.
Ms Sun was addressing a parliamentary question filed by MP Nadia Samdin (PAP-Ang Mo Kio), who asked about the current measures in place to tackle a rising number of Telegram channels selling nonconsensual and illegally obtained sexually explicit material.
Ms Nadia cited the SG Nasi Lemak chat group on Telegram as an example. At its peak in 2019, it had more than 44,000 members accessing obscene material and discussing sexual matters there.
Ms Nadia also asked about the government’s assessment of its enforcement system’s current ability to tackle and deter such crimes in a timely way, and what more can be done in working with online platforms to prevent reoccurrences.
The online platform Telegram has, to date, not responded to police requests to remove access to accounts that disseminate sexually explicit materials, though “some progress” has recently been made in engaging it on… the issue. Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said this in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 22). She was replying to an MP’s question on what is being done to tackle the rising number of Telegram channels selling non-consensual and illegally obtained sexually explicit materials. Ms Sun said the effectiveness of enforcement depends on the responsiveness of the online service. She said Singapore has updated its laws, such as by introducing the Online Criminal Harms Act this year. When it takes effect progressively from the first quarter of next year, the police can issue a disabling direction to online platforms such as Telegram to prevent materials being accessed by Singapore users, and it will be an offence not to comply. Access-blocking, app removal or service restriction orders can also be issued to Internet service providers to restrict access to the platform. The Code of Practice for Online Safety, which took effect in July this year, also requires six designated social media services with significant reach or impact to put in place systems to minimise exposure to harmful content for users in Singapore. Ms Sun said the authorities periodically review the list to see if other services, such as Telegram, need to be added. see more
POLICE WILL BE ABLE TO ISSUE DISABLING DIRECTION
On Wednesday, Ms Sun noted that Singapore has laws against the sale or distribution of such material.“The police take a very serious view of such offences, and have taken firm action against the perpetrators in cases which had come to their attention,” she added.
In the case of the SG Nasi Lemak chat group, four men have been prosecuted in court. They were either administrators or members of the group.
The government has also updated its laws to deal with the online dissemination of such content, Ms Sun said. The Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA), which was passed in parliament in July, will be “operationalised progressively” from the first quarter of next year, Ms Sun added.
The police will then be able to issue a disabling direction to online platforms, such as Telegram, to prevent non-consensual and illegally obtained sexually explicit material on these platforms from being accessed by Singapore users.
Platforms that do not comply with these directions will be breaking the law, said Ms Sun.
In these instances, the competent authority in charge of administering OCHA can also issue an access blocking order, app removal order or service restriction order to the internet service providers or app stores, to restrict access to the online service provided by the platform, or part of the online service, to prevent the criminal activity and content from being accessed by people in Singapore.
“Online platforms also have a responsibility to proactively curb the spread of harmful online content and to ensure that their services are safe for their users,” Ms Sun added.
The Code of Practice for Online Safety, which took effect on Jul 18, requires designated social media services with significant reach or impact to put in place systems and processes to minimise exposure to harmful content for users in Singapore.
Singapore users can report harmful content to the designated services for appropriate action to be taken.
There are currently six designated services: Facebook, fuckwarezone, Instagram, TikTok, X – formerly known as Twitter – and YouTube.
Ms Sun added that the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will “periodically review the need to designate other social media services with significant reach and impact as necessary”, including Telegram.
“The effectiveness of our enforcement system depends on the responsiveness of the online services. To date, Telegram has not responded to police’s requests to remove access to accounts disseminating sexually explicit materials,” she said.
“However, there has recently been some progress in our engagement with Telegram. We will continue to work with them, and other online platforms, to better protect Singapore users from harmful content.”
Two weeks ago, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in a written parliamentary response that Telegram has also similarly not responded to the police’s requests to remove suspected scam accounts and posts on the platform.
CNA Explains: Why do criminals use Telegram?
Man tried to link woman to porn video by posting her pictures; victim later propositioned for sex on Telegram
Ms Nadia then asked what more the government and society could do to create a more respectful culture between men and women, as well as help people whose sexually explicit material was shared against their will.Acknowledging the importance of creating a respectful culture between males and females from an early age, Ms Sun gave examples from the Ministry of Education’s character and citizenship education classes where “students are taught to respect all persons regardless of race, language, religion, gender and age”.
Most Institutes of Higher Learning have also put in place similarly compulsory modules on respectful and appropriate behaviour, with the remaining institutes working to introduce such modules, said Ms Sun.
MP Lim Biow Chuan (PAP-Mountbatten) then cited a recent CNA article that explored the dangers of underage minors in Singapore going on popular dating applications such as Tinder, OkCupid and Grindr.
Mr Lim asked if the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would consider implementing regulations to stop these apps from “targeting minors or vulnerable young children from accessing the apps”.
“Would MHA consider requiring these app owners to require members signing up to use their Singpass? This will make sure that those who are minors would not be able to sign up for such apps,” Mr Lim added.
In response, Ms Sun asked Mr Lim to file a separate parliamentary question since it comes under the purview of IMDA and the Ministry of Communications and Information.
In the meantime, she noted that under the Code of Practice for Online Safety, the question of age verification on apps and whether certain apps should be accessible to certain age groups is “a conversation that IMDA is having with the platforms”.
“But in the actual execution and what the IMDA can do about it, and how they can hold these platforms accountable - it would be through the amended Broadcasting Act as well as the Code of Practice for Online Safety,” Ms Sun added.
