Singapore introduces new law to bar information on terror attacks in media

Singapore, February 27: In order to boost co-operation and tackle militancy the government in Singapore has proposed a new law to deal with terror attacks by preventing people in the area from taking photos or videos of the incident and communicating about police operations.

The proposal laid would apply to journalists and transmit punishments such as fines or prison which is a part of a Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill 2018 introduced in parliament. In this regard the Home Affairs Minister has approved and stated that measures would allow police to issue a “communications stop order.”

The decision was taken by the country to deter leakage of information to the terrorist groups. Citing the media coverage of a 2015 attack on a Jewish deli in Paris in which four hostages were killed, and a 2008 attack in India’s financial capital of Mumbai in which 100 people were killed the decision comes into effect.

This proposal require all persons in the incident area to stop making or communicating films or pictures of the incident area, and stop communicating text or audio messages about the ongoing security operations in the incident area. The decision was taken to stop information leaks to terrorist could endanger the lives of security officers and the people caught up in the attack.