Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on the Measures to Counter the Dangers of Indoctrination via Social Media

Question:

Ms Joan Pereira: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs what measures are in place to counter the dangers of indoctrination via social media, especially for messages targeted at vulnerable groups and youths.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1.   There is a growing array of harmful online content, including terrorism-related materials that promote violence.

2.   To tackle this, the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) recently announced two proposed Codes of Practice to strengthen safety for users of social media services, especially young users. In particular, the Code of Practice for Online Safety will require designated social media services, those with significant reach or impact, to put in place appropriate measures and safeguards to mitigate exposure to harmful online content for Singapore-based users. These include system-wide processes to enhance online safety for all users, and additional safeguards for young users who are below the age of 18.

3.   The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is also working to strengthen Singapore’s legal levers to deal with harmful online content, including materials disseminated by terrorists, and content that incite violence.

4.   To counter indoctrination by such online materials, we also need to educate and raise the awareness of our public, including youths. MHA drives the SGSecure movement, which is a call to action to Singaporeans to prepare for the threat of a terrorist attack. As part of SGSecure, we have been working with the Ministry of Education to engage students on terrorism-related issues. For example, we have incorporated SGSecure content into story books for students, and held assembly talks and exhibitions in the schools.

5.   The Internal Security Department (ISD) has also been working with schools, Institutes of Higher Learning and community organisations to conduct counter-terrorism and counter-radicalisation outreach activities for students, youths and educators since 2007. These include workshops, talks and seminars.

6.   Community partners such as the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) and the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group also conduct counter-ideology outreach activities targeted at students and youths. For example, the RRG has been working with schools to organise assembly talks, workshops, as well as learning journeys to the RRG Resource and Counselling Centre. The RRG has also intensified its digital outreach efforts, producing online lectures, "live" postings, online engagements and videos, for the community, including for youths.

7.   We will keep up these efforts.