It can be argued that freedom of speech is the single most important individual right. It is a concept enshrined in basic human rights laws. Fundamentally, it allows a representative range of views on every topic.
Approximately 134 Singaporean bloggers, including both individual and community blogs, blacked out their homepage yesterday by way of protesting against new licensing rules for news websites. The 24 hour strike went on until midnight last night. Websites that took part included The Online Citizen and Yawning Bread.
The Media Development Authority (MDA) announced last week, that sites which regularly post about Singapore news regularly, who receive 50,000 or more unique visitors from Singapore every month, have to apply for an individual licence and put up a $50,000 (Singapore Dollars – approximately 40,000 USD or 1,230,000 baht) bond. Content which fails to meet requirements must be removed within 24 hours.
Chaninat and Leeds specializes in business law in Thailand
Bloggers are understandably concerned that the new rules would impinge on Internet freedom and restrict freedom of speech. Participants of the blackout said they felt it was important to remind Singaporean citizens of their right to a free flow of information.
The movement calling themselves Free My Internet has launched an online petition in protest of the new regulations and have planned a rally at Hong Lim Park on June 8 from 4pm to 7pm. Almost 1600 have already indicated they will be attending the rally.
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