The Straits Times
09 March 2018
- RSIS
- Media Mentions
- Communications Blackout: Call to Use Law Judiciously
Communications Blackout: Call to Use Law Judiciously
While a proposed law to ban communications in the vicinity of an ongoing serious incident is necessary, it should be used judiciously, say experts.
A key provision of the Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill is to prevent people – including journalists and bystanders – from filming or taking photographs that can undermine security operations – for instance, during terror attacks. Communication via text or audio messages about ongoing security operations will also be halted when a stop order is issued.
Associate research fellow Nur Azlin Yasin, from Singapore’s International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, said: “These events have shown that live broadcasting of an incident can provide information to adversaries and will jeopardise secrecy of rescue operations.”
ICPVTR / Online
