The Internet and Local

Politics

COMM2285 Communication
Law
Daniel Yeo Rosslyn Chay Kenneth Goh
Adele Wong Joyce Chua
The following images and findings may surprise,
shock or even stun you.
We hope the audience would observe with an open
mind just as we did in undertaking this study.

Audience discretion advised.

?
Does the Internet have a democratising
effect
on Politics in Singapore

Internet  Blogs, Discussion forums, Social Networking &

Video sharing websites, Political websites etc

Democratising  Providing equal opportunity for all

?
Does the Internet have a democratising
effect
on Politics in Singapore
Year Home Computer Home Internet
Penetration Penetration
1997 41% 14%
2001 64% 57%
2006 78% 71%
2007 79% 74%

• Greater Internet penetration over the years.

• 6 in 10 Singaporeans said they go online to read news,

commentaries or postings about local politics or policies.
?
Does the Internet have a democratising
effect
on Politics in Singapore

Democratising Effects of Internet:

• Push power from the center of politics to the fringe

• Greater access to information and knowledge

• Increase governmental accountability

• Empower participation in politics

• Blogging trend perpetuates a Read Only > Read-Write Culture

• Eliminate gatekeepers/intermediaries of news and information

?
Does the Internet have a democratising
effect
on Politics in Singapore

“This unlegislated shift in media regime has also led to a

mushrooming of alternative online media on Singapore,
what George refers to as “politically contentious
journalism”, or media that “challenges dominant
ideologies and attempts to democratise public discourse”

(George 2003: 1)
 Tip of the iceberg:

The Internet has a democratising

effect on Politics in Singapore
 Methodologies

• Research papers – Academic theory and thesis

• Industry studies – Commissioned studies targeted at greater

understanding of the relation between the
Internet
and Singapore politics.

• Interviews – With experts and opinion leaders

• Street surveys – Sample size of 200 conducted in various parts of

the country.
The Internet impacts a large group
of the Public
The Internet impacts a large group of the
Public
• Reach vs Impact

• Noise
 The Internet impacts a large group of the
Public
Reach vs. Impact

Reach – Size of audience exposed to a message on

a particular medium.

Only 40.0% of Internet users believed the Internet could help people
understand politics.
(Kuo, C.Y., Choi, A., Mahizhnan, A. Lee W.P. & Soh C. (2002).
Internet in Singapore: A study on usage and impact. Times Academic Press

“Internet penetration covers only a portion of the population.  Within this

group, only a handful post their thoughts and opinions online.  As such, online
opinion speak only for a selected group of the population.  There is still a
large group of offline Singaporeans whose views might or might not coincide
with the views of those who are online.”
~ Worker’s Party
 The Internet impacts a large group of the
Public
Reach vs. Impact

Is there a great impact?

“From my experience in AIMS and the focus groups we held, when it comes to
controversial issues such as gay rights and casinos, most people have very
strong opinions that will not be easily swayed by other people’s points of view”
~ Assoc Prof Milagros Rivera, Chair of NUS Communications and New Media program
Noise
(e.g.
advertisers,
other non-
political
programmes)

Transmitter Traditional Receiver

Media
(E.g. TV or
Newspaper)

Message

SENDER RECEIVER
Noise from:
Blogs
 Discussion
Forums
 Political
Websites
 News Portals

Transmitter INTERNET
Receiver

Message

SENDER RECEIVER
 The Internet impacts a large group of the
Public
Noise

“A lot of good analysis can be published online; so can a lot of

rubbish.”

“I am not convinced that all the debate on the net is even remotely meaningful –
a lot is just childish and sometimes, plain silly. Even nasty. There are more
serious forums, more academic or thoughtful political commentary, but does the
average surfer bother to be discerning?”
~ Dr Thio Li-Ann Nominated Member of Parliament
Prof. Law National University of Singapore

“There is also a prevalence of noises, rumours and distortions in

cyberspace. As AIMS has noted, while there were reasoned and critical
views, there was also “a great deal of unhelpful commentary and
discussions online”.”
~ Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Infocommunication, Communications and the Arts
in response to a Parliamentary question on 4 Feb
The Internet impacts a large group of the
Public
Reaching out for
whom?
Top Site Categories in
Singapore
Total Singapore Based on Time Spent
Internet
Audience*, Feb-09
Age 15+ - Home & Work
Locations  
Source: comScore World Metrix Share
  (%) of Total
Minutes Spent
  Online
Total Internet 100%
Instant Messengers 24.2%
Entertainment 13.8%
Social Networking 8.0%
e-mail 5.7%
Online Gaming 2.4%
Search/Navigation 2.3%
Blogs 2.1%
Business/Finance 1.9%
Community 1.5%
News/Information 1.3%
All Other Categories 37.0%
The Internet impacts a large group of the
Public
 NO.
The Internet does not impact a large group
of Public despite the high penetration.
The Internet will get more Singaporeans
involved in Politics
 The Internet will get more Singaporeans
involved
in Politics?
Information does not equate to involvement

What sort of websites do you normally surf?

% of
responses

Arts & Culture 1.4%

E-Administration 4.0%
Politics and Grassroots 4.2%
Sports & Health 6.7%
Beauty & Wellness 7.8%
Travel 8.5%
Blogs & Discussion Forums 10.0%
Video Sharing 10.2%
Fashion/Entertainment and
10.5%
Gossip
News & Current Affairs 13.7%
Social Networking 23.0%

Politics and Grassroots is a low priority for Singapore netizens.

 The Internet will get more Singaporeans
involved
in Politics?
Information does not equate to involvement

“Despite the anonymous nature of cyberspace, 88% of those

who read about local politics and policies online are passive –
they do not post
their own views or comments.”
-Media Research Consultants Survey, May 2009

“Few are willing to actually participate.”

- NMP Siew Kum Hong
The Internet will get more Singaporeans
involved
in Politics?
The online world is not immune from real world
imbalances

“The virtual world merely mirrors reality.”

- NMP Siew Kum Hong
 The Internet will get more Singaporeans
involved
in Politics?
The potential of the internet is regulated

“Most people do not speak up on public issues and

one can understand why – all the personal and
professional assassination going on – why bother to
speak up for the common good?”
- Dr Thio Li-Ann, Professor of Law, NUS

“Singaporeans young and old don’t really care about politics.

It’s because of the climate of fear.”
- Mr Martyn See, Filmmaker, Singapore Rebel
 The Internet will get more Singaporeans
involved
in Politics?
The potential of the internet is regulated
What is the reason behind not participating in these discussions on Singapore politics?
Others 2.2%
Job-related prohibitions 4.5%
Unsure of legality of making political
10.2%
comments
Fear of legal prosecution 12.1%
No Interest 30.1%
Feels it does not change matters 40.1%

What is the main reason you feel that the Internet is not a good
medium for free and open political discussion?
Others 3.4%
Too much cyber-bullying and irrelevant
9.0%
topics
Possible prosecution 11.2%
Lack of quality discussion 32.6%
No political empowerment 43.8%

Internet regulations and the fear of them are inhibiting the potential of the
internet for politics.
 The Internet will get more Singaporeans
involved
in Politics?
There can be no interest if action has no effect

“For most people, most of the time, politics is indeed boring.”

- Associate Professor Dr Ang Peng Hwa, Head, Singapore Internet Research
Centre, NTU
 The Internet will get more Singaporeans
involved
in Politics?
There can be no interest if action has no effect
What is the reason behind not participating in these discussions on Singapore politics?
Others 2.2%
Job-related prohibitions 4.5%
Unsure of legality of making political
10.2%
comments
Fear of legal prosecution 12.1%
No Interest 30.1%
Feels it does not change matters 40.1%

What is the main reason you feel that the Internet is not a good
medium for free and open political discussion?
Others 3.4%
Too much cyber-bullying and irrelevant
9.0%
topics
Possible prosecution 11.2%
Lack of quality discussion 32.6%
No political empowerment 43.8%

Singapore netizens are not interested in politics as their actions have no

effect.
 NO.
The Internet will not by itself get more
Singaporeans involved in Politics.
The Internet allows free flow of
political discussion
 The Internet allows free flow of political
discussion
• The Internet facilitates as a platform for “free speech” and
interaction in new forms of political community found online,
where anyone can “challenge professional and official positions”
in a wide scope.
~ Terry Flew: 2002; New Media: an introduction; p185

Q: BUT can this theory apply for Singapore

political climate?

• “The majority of Internet users also disagreed that using the

Internet would enable them to have more say about what the
government does (49.8% disagreed) ...”

~ NTU 2001 Adult Survey; funded by Infocomm Development of Singapore and

SBA; School of Communication and Information; December 2002: p16
 Government’s Internet
Regulations
Year Web Regulations

1996 • Registration required by SBA for content providers belonging

to political parties or any groups discussing topics on politics,
race or religion to register.

1998 • Censorship restrictions under Undesirable Publication Act

extended to modern electronic media.

2001 • Parliamentary Elections Act amendment – Political parties

could use the Internet to campaign but no podcasts and
vodcasts allowed.

• The Government issued a ‘Positive list’ under the same act.

 Cases of clashes with the government
Name Occupatio Date Activity Charges / Sanctions
n
Dr. Tan N/A July – Aug. • Launched website – • Asked to register under SBA
2001 Sintercom as a Notification 1996
Chong
platform for
Kee discussions about • Self-censor and remove all
S’pore politics-related content

• Shut down the website in the

end
Chen Graduate Mar.2005 • Criticised A*STAR’s • Issued a warning of taking legal
student / new policy actions for libellous comments
Jiahao
Blogger
• Closed his blog and post an
apology letter to A*Star online
Singapore N/A April 2006 • Post podcasts on its
website • Removal of all its podcasts
Democrati
c Party
(SDP)
Yap Keng SDP activist Nov. 2006 • Posting a film of • Against the Parliamentary
unregistered rally in Elections Act
Ho
his blog
• Sentenced to 10 days in jail +
removal of related documents
Gopalan Singaporean May - June • Criticised the • Sedition Act against the
lawyer 2008 handling of a administration of justice in
Nair
/member of defamation case by Singapore
Worker’s Party the Supreme Court
• Served 61 days in jail
 The Internet allows free flow of political
discussion
• “Such a case reinforces the power of local defamation laws and the
government’s usage of this tool for control of the internet and citizens’
actions online.”
~ Dr. Thio Li-ann: 2008; Singapore Journal of Legal Studies

• “The curbs on the use of the Internet by opposition parties were part of a
broader obstruction of the exploitation of new media for political discussion
or propaganda purposes.”
~ Garry Rodan is an associate professor of politics and a member of the Asia Research Centre at
Murdoch University, Perth, Australia.

• "This has a chilling effect as people may steer clear of discussing politics,
as they fear running foul of the law.“
~ Academic Mark Cenite, Nanyang Technological University; The Straits Times: 05/04/06

• "Such rules should not be there in the first place. In a democracy, you want
the people and political parties to have access to as many tools as possible
for a free flow of information.“
~Mr. Tan Tarn How; of the Institute of Policy Studies
 NO.
The Internet does not allow free flow of
political discussion.
The internet influences electoral issues. 
The Internet influences electoral issues

Since the increase in internet penetration,

support for alternative politics have not increased
significantly
 The Internet influences electoral issues
Table 1: Internet Penetration
Year Internet Source: 2002/2006/2007 Annual Survey on
Infocomm usage in households and by individuals
Penetration
2001 57%
2006 71%

Table 2: Percentage of votes for opposition parties with websites

Opposition Party 1997 2001 2006

Singapore Democratic No seats 12.% 13.0%
Alliance contested
National Solidarity Party 6.7% No seats No seats
contested contested
Singapore People’s Party 2.3% No seats No seats
contested contested
Singapore Democratic 10.6% 8.1% 4.1%
Party

Source: Complied and collated from the Singapore Statistics, Singapore Government’s Elections Department
website, independent election watch websites, media reports, election watch reports, academic sources.

Increase in Internet Penetration: 14%

Increase in support for alternative politics: 1% or
negative growth
The Internet influences electoral issues

“The freedom to distribute alternative political content

through the internet will not lead to change in electoral
results.”

- James Gomez, Political Scholar

The Internet influences electoral issues

Since the increase in internet penetration, electoral

outcomes have not been affected

"The evidence shows that the

Internet hasn't been able to
influence the number of seats
won by the PAP.”

– James Gomez, Political Scholar

The Internet influences electoral issues

“In quantitative terms, the impact on election results has

been nil.”
~ James Gomez, Political Scholar

“I don't think AIMS aims to create an environment whereby

internet chatter will swing elections.”
~ Alex Au, political commentator
The Internet influences electoral issues

Online political advertising does not have an

effect.

“I would say that loosening regulations and allowing

political advertising on the Internet may not necessarily
result in an increase in the seats or votes garnered by the
opposition parties in the next elections.”
~ NMP Siew Kum Hong
The Internet influences electoral issues

”Only 18.7% of Internet users and 14.8% of non-users believed

the Internet would give the people more say in governance.”
~ Internet in Singapore: A study on usage and impact, Research Paper

“Change cannot be effected from cyberspace.”

“Its citizenry remain … uncertain of the capabilities of
opposition members to govern Singapore.”
~ Ramanthan, Research Paper

“The internet cannot be the

panacea.
It is an important part but not the
cure-all”
The Internet influences electoral issues

The structure of the political system does not

allow the internet to influence electoral issues

“The opposition needs an influx of new blood .... It also

needs a compelling manifesto – it’s hard to do so when the
PAP has swallowed the middle ground.”

“The internet is a source of publicity and information, but

really does not speak to the issue of being able to put
forward a good team of candidates.”
 NO.
The Internet does not influence
electoral issues.
 Conclusion
“Discussion on the Internet is analogous to discussion at the coffeeshop.  The
quality of discussion really depends on the people participating in the
discussion.”
– Worker’s Party

“You need a good and inspiring message as well as extensive reach, via internet
and other means.” – Dr Thio Li-Ann

“Mr Siew… feels that although the Government at times, “overreacts to and
overestimates the weight of online chatter”, it should still, as a principle, “do its
best to engage and respond to all views, whether supportive or critical”.”

Do you feel that punitive defamatory suits are impeding on free and open
political discussion on the Internet? What possible alternatives would you
suggest to regulate online discussion?

Of course. The chilling effect is well-documented. There is no one way to

regulate online discussion. Much depends on what is discussed: national
secrets? Information on how to build a bomb to attack our Istana, the SIM
canteen? Trade secrets?
 Conclusion
•Internet  Medium

•Noise

•Right Direction
 Possible Solutions
“Singaporeans know that the space they enjoy was not provided by socially
recognised rights. Instead, they have simply seized the freedom provided by
technologies that they acquire.

Second, freedoms seized in this manner are not burdened by any sense of
social responsibility. Singaporeans exercising their freedom on the internet
can tell themselves that it is their own individual cleverness that earned them
this freedom. They bought their computers, subscribed for the internet,
downloaded the programs and mustered the gumption.”
~Dr Cherian George Assoc Prof NTU School of Communication and Information

“If society wants to continue enjoying greater freedoms, it must be willing to

accept the responsibilities to these rights. Self-regulating would provide a
freer environment where content providers are responsible for what they say
that prevents the harsh legislation from being reinstated.”
~ Jonathan Yuen, Associate Director/ Litigator based in Singapore.
 Possible Solutions

• Community Regulation

• Awareness and Education of Legislation and Responsibility.

 What lies beneath

The Internet has a democratising

effect on Politics in Singapore

No!