SINGAPORE: The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has suspended alternative news website The Online Citizen's (TOC) class licence to operate its websites and social media accounts.
In a media release issued on Tuesday (Sep 14), IMDA said the website will have two weeks until Sep 28 to provide further information to fully comply with the Broadcasting Act.
If it fails to do so, IMDA said it may cancel TOC’s class licence.
IMDA's announcement comes after TOC failed to declare all its funding sources in its annual declaration for 2020, despite "multiple reminders and extensions".
The authority said it decided to suspend the licence as TOC has not provided a good reason for its non-compliance.
Registered Internet content providers such as TOC, which promote or discuss political issues relating to Singapore online, are "required to be transparent" about their sources of funding. This is to prevent foreign influence in domestic politics, IMDA said.
Under Section 12 of the Broadcasting Act, IMDA can cancel or suspend the licence of a broadcasting licensee if it is found to have contravened any conditions of its licence. The licensee may also be fined.
With the suspension, TOC will have to stop posting articles on its websites and its social media channels and accounts. TOC will be required to disable them by 3pm on Sep 16.
TOC will also not be allowed to operate any new licensable broadcasting services online.
If it fails to comply, IMDA said it may take steps to restrict access to these services. It is also a criminal offence for TOC to continue operating these services and its officers may be held liable.
Last week, IMDA asked the TOC to "explain its non-compliance " after it “repeatedly failed" to declare its funding sources.
TOC failed to verify a donor and to clarify discrepancies in its foreign advertising revenue in its 2019 declaration, said IMDA, adding that it issued a warning in May this year.
IMDA said it provided a “final opportunity” for TOC to explain its non-compliance by Sep 13.
In TOC’s Sep 13 response to IMDA, which the authority said was received after the stipulated deadline, the website purportedly offered to provide the “necessary declaration”, on the condition that IMDA assures TOC that it will not seek further clarifications regarding its subscription framework and funding sources.
IMDA said it “fully considered” TOC’s representations.
“The requirement for TOC to provide information concerning the provision of its broadcasting service to IMDA is a requirement by law to ensure full transparency,” said IMDA.
“It is therefore not a matter of negotiation with IMDA.”
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In a media release issued on Tuesday (Sep 14), IMDA said the website will have two weeks until Sep 28 to provide further information to fully comply with the Broadcasting Act.
If it fails to do so, IMDA said it may cancel TOC’s class licence.
IMDA's announcement comes after TOC failed to declare all its funding sources in its annual declaration for 2020, despite "multiple reminders and extensions".
The authority said it decided to suspend the licence as TOC has not provided a good reason for its non-compliance.
Registered Internet content providers such as TOC, which promote or discuss political issues relating to Singapore online, are "required to be transparent" about their sources of funding. This is to prevent foreign influence in domestic politics, IMDA said.
Under Section 12 of the Broadcasting Act, IMDA can cancel or suspend the licence of a broadcasting licensee if it is found to have contravened any conditions of its licence. The licensee may also be fined.
With the suspension, TOC will have to stop posting articles on its websites and its social media channels and accounts. TOC will be required to disable them by 3pm on Sep 16.
TOC will also not be allowed to operate any new licensable broadcasting services online.
If it fails to comply, IMDA said it may take steps to restrict access to these services. It is also a criminal offence for TOC to continue operating these services and its officers may be held liable.
Last week, IMDA asked the TOC to "explain its non-compliance " after it “repeatedly failed" to declare its funding sources.
TOC failed to verify a donor and to clarify discrepancies in its foreign advertising revenue in its 2019 declaration, said IMDA, adding that it issued a warning in May this year.
IMDA said it provided a “final opportunity” for TOC to explain its non-compliance by Sep 13.
In TOC’s Sep 13 response to IMDA, which the authority said was received after the stipulated deadline, the website purportedly offered to provide the “necessary declaration”, on the condition that IMDA assures TOC that it will not seek further clarifications regarding its subscription framework and funding sources.
IMDA said it “fully considered” TOC’s representations.
“The requirement for TOC to provide information concerning the provision of its broadcasting service to IMDA is a requirement by law to ensure full transparency,” said IMDA.
“It is therefore not a matter of negotiation with IMDA.”
Continue reading...