In an interesting story that popped up today on the Reporters Without Borders website, it seems that electoral authorities have ordered the removal of a podcast from one of the candidates websites in a Singaporean election. This is the first time (to my knowledge) that a government anywhere has taken podcasting so seriously to the point of forcing removal of the content stating, “Internet users aware of the latest technologies are daring to say things online which one has never been able to read in the local newspapers…”. If you have a minute for a quick read, check out the whole story. You can even listen to the speech (in English).
Reporters Without Borders today accused the Singaporean government of placing increasing curbs on online free expression after the electoral authorities ordered the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) to withdraw a podcast from its website on Wednesday, 10 days before parliamentary elections.
“A new form of protest on the Internet and in blogs is emerging in Singapore,†the press freedom organisation said. “Internet users aware of the latest technologies are daring to say things online which one has never been able to read in the local newspapers. Podcasts are the only way to hear the speeches of opposition leaders, who have few opportunities to speak publicly. We support the Internet users and bloggers fighting for free expression in Singapore.â€
The speech by SDP leader Chee Soon Juan can still be downloaded from the party’s site at http://www.sgdemocrat.org/radioSDP/GE2006_PC1.mp3, while a transcript is available at this blog : http://www.singabloodypore.blogspot.com/.
Read it All >> Reporters sans fronti̬res РSingapore