Requirement for Online Service Providers to Insert Advisories on Severe Penalty for Posts Relating to Illegal Drugs and Their Trafficking into Singapore

Debated in Parliament on 14 Feb 2022.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gan Thiam Poh asked if online service providers could be required to insert advisories on posts about illegal drugs, highlighting the drugs' harmful effects and the severe penalties for trafficking into Singapore.
Josephine Teo affirmed Singapore’s strict zero-tolerance policy, noting that the Misuse of Drugs Act criminalizes trafficking and unauthorized import/export, including facilitation via digital means.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority blocks websites promoting illegal drugs, while social media platforms have policies against such content and users can report problematic posts.
Singapore’s strategy includes preventive drug education through the Central Narcotics Bureau, which offers programs, toolkits, and community advocacy to raise awareness and discourage drug use.
The government complements regulatory measures with public education to enhance vigilance against online drug-related content and support the anti-drug cause.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Gan Thiam Poh

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether the Ministry will consider asking online service providers to insert advisories on all posts relating to illegal drugs on the harmful effects on potential users and the severe penalty that one will face in trafficking such drugs into Singapore.

Mrs Josephine Teo

Singapore adopts a strict policy of zero tolerance towards illegal drugs and deals with the drug problem through a comprehensive range of measures. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, it is an offence for persons to traffic in a controlled drug. It is also an offence for persons to import into or export from Singapore controlled drugs without authorisation. Persons who facilitate the sale or importation of controlled drugs via the Internet or other digital means may be liable for such offences.

When the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is alerted to websites that make illegal drugs easy to acquire in Singapore or promote illegal drug use, it will direct Internet Service Providers to block access to such websites under the Internet Code of Practice (ICOP). Social media platforms, generally, also have policies prohibiting the sale or promotion of illegal drugs. Users of those platforms may report such problematic content to the platform owner for review.

As part of Singapore's holistic drug control strategy, Government efforts to prevent access to illegal drug content are complemented by public education and awareness. Preventive drug education (PDE) remains the first line of defence in the Central Narcotics Bureau's (CNB) approach to enhance public awareness of the harms of drugs and to encourage a drug-free lifestyle. CNB has tailored PDE programmes for schools as well as those in positions of influence like parents, counsellors, educators, youth advocates and National Service commanders. They also receive informational toolkits to help them provide guidance or peer support to the youths. CNB also promotes anti-drug advocacy by like-minded individuals and community organisations. These efforts are crucial in galvanising public support for the anti-drug cause and in ensuring that the public is vigilant against online content relating to illegal drugs.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gan Thiam Poh asked if online service providers could be required to insert advisories on posts about illegal drugs, highlighting the drugs' harmful effects and the severe penalties for trafficking into Singapore.
Josephine Teo affirmed Singapore’s strict zero-tolerance policy, noting that the Misuse of Drugs Act criminalizes trafficking and unauthorized import/export, including facilitation via digital means.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority blocks websites promoting illegal drugs, while social media platforms have policies against such content and users can report problematic posts.
Singapore’s strategy includes preventive drug education through the Central Narcotics Bureau, which offers programs, toolkits, and community advocacy to raise awareness and discourage drug use.
The government complements regulatory measures with public education to enhance vigilance against online drug-related content and support the anti-drug cause.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Requirement for Online Service Providers to Insert Advisories on Severe Penalty for Posts Relating to Illegal Drugs and Their Trafficking into Singapore | PAPERCUTS

Requirement for Online Service Providers to Insert Advisories on Severe Penalty for Posts Relating to Illegal Drugs and Their Trafficking into Singapore

Debated in Parliament on 14 Feb 2022.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gan Thiam Poh asked if online service providers could be required to insert advisories on posts about illegal drugs, highlighting the drugs' harmful effects and the severe penalties for trafficking into Singapore.
Josephine Teo affirmed Singapore’s strict zero-tolerance policy, noting that the Misuse of Drugs Act criminalizes trafficking and unauthorized import/export, including facilitation via digital means.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority blocks websites promoting illegal drugs, while social media platforms have policies against such content and users can report problematic posts.
Singapore’s strategy includes preventive drug education through the Central Narcotics Bureau, which offers programs, toolkits, and community advocacy to raise awareness and discourage drug use.
The government complements regulatory measures with public education to enhance vigilance against online drug-related content and support the anti-drug cause.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Gan Thiam Poh

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Gan Thiam Poh asked if online service providers could be required to insert advisories on posts about illegal drugs, highlighting the drugs' harmful effects and the severe penalties for trafficking into Singapore.
Josephine Teo affirmed Singapore’s strict zero-tolerance policy, noting that the Misuse of Drugs Act criminalizes trafficking and unauthorized import/export, including facilitation via digital means.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority blocks websites promoting illegal drugs, while social media platforms have policies against such content and users can report problematic posts.
Singapore’s strategy includes preventive drug education through the Central Narcotics Bureau, which offers programs, toolkits, and community advocacy to raise awareness and discourage drug use.
The government complements regulatory measures with public education to enhance vigilance against online drug-related content and support the anti-drug cause.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Requirement for Online Service Providers to Insert Advisories on Severe Penalty for Posts Relating to Illegal Drugs and Their Trafficking into Singapore

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Gan Thiam Poh

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary

Questions Identified

Requirement for Online Service Providers to Insert Advisories on Severe Penalty for Posts Relating to Illegal Drugs and Their Trafficking into Singapore

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Gan Thiam Poh

Mrs Josephine Teo

Summary

Questions Identified