Data on direction and order issuance for platform removal and to restrict access to extremist content in past three years and potential review of measures

Question:

Ms Diana Pang Li Yen: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) for each of the last three calendar years, how many directions or orders were issued under the Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act and the Online Criminal Harm s Act to restrict access to or remove online content promoting radical, violent or extremist acts; and (b) whether these measures are being reviewed in light of online self-radicalisation trends among youths.


Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. To date, no directions have been issued under the Broadcasting Act or the Online Criminal Harms Act to restrict access to or remove online content promoting radical, violent or extremist acts. Such content is likely to violate the terms of service or com munity guidelines of online platforms, and may therefore be removed by the platforms proactively or upon reports from users. We have thus not found it necessary to exercise legal levers to compel the removal of such content, though we are prepared to do so if necessary.