How MDA’s new Licensing Regime will affect YOU

Date: Thursday, 13 June 2013, 6.45pm to 9.00pm
Venue: Singapore Computer Society Resource Centre, 53 Neil Road, Singapore 088829 (ground floor meeting room)

With effect from 1 June 2013, online news sites that report regularly on issues relating to Singapore and have significant reach among readers here will require an individual licence from the Media Development Authority (MDA). According to the authority, this will place them on a more consistent regulatory framework with traditional news platforms which are already individually licensed.

The move has drawn criticism and scrutiny from Singapore’s online community. Bloggers and commentators have drawn attention to the policy’s lack of clarity on what qualifies as an “online news platform” as well as concerns that the line between “regulation” and “censorship” could blur.

Many major Singaporean websites and even international watchdog groups such as Reporters Without Borders have registered their opposition to the move, arguing that the policy did not go through proper public consultation channels before being announced.

Jointly organised by SCS and the Internet Society Singapore Chapter, this session seeks to analyse and unpack the MDA’s new licensing rules. It will explore how this new policy development will affect the mainstream and online alternative media, and all Internet users in Singapore, with a panel drawn from different fields of Internet expertise and experience. It also seeks to help participants understand the implications on the industry and organisations in terms of impact to technology and processes as a result of the new regulations.

Whether you are a blogger, writer, or a concerned citizen with an opinion, this seminar is for you to find out more and to share your views. Join us at the Singapore Computer Society Resource Centre, 53 Neil Road, Singapore 088892 on Thursday, 13 June 2013, 6.45pm to 9.00pm or online through Google Hangout or Twitter (use the hashtag #mdarules)

The programme is as follows:

6:45pm Arrival of guests/participants
7.00pm Introduction
7.10pm Discussions
8.30pm Q & A (from the floor, questions received from online and skype participants)

To register for the event, please register HERE by Tuesday, 11 June 2013. You will receive a confirmation email once we have received your registration. Registration is free.