Telegram has not responded to police requests to block access to accounts distributing sexually explicit material, according to Minister of State for
Telegram has not responded to police requests to block access to accounts distributing sexually explicit material, according to Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling. Speaking on Wednesday (Nov 22), Sun, also Minister of State for Social and Family Development, addressed Parliament on the government’s approach to rising numbers of Telegram channels disseminating non-consensual explicit content, as seen in groups like SG Nasi Lemak and SGWikiLeaks.
Sun emphasized that authorities treat these offenses seriously. This year, the government introduced the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA), set to gradually come into effect from early 2024. The act will empower officials to require individuals, service providers, and platforms to block or remove content linked to criminal activity.
Once operational, the OCHA will allow police to issue “Disabling Directions” to platforms like Telegram, effectively blocking offensive content from Singaporean users. Non-compliance will be considered an offense, and access to the platform or specific services can be restricted to prevent exposure to criminal content.
Sun acknowledged progress in recent discussions with Telegram and emphasized the platform’s responsibility to ensure user safety by proactively limiting harmful content. She reiterated the importance of online platforms supporting efforts to make digital spaces safe.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) introduced the Code of Practice for Online Safety in July, which requires major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, to implement measures to limit harmful content exposure. Telegram’s status will be reviewed periodically, Sun added, to assess if it should be included under these safety regulations.
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