Forum to Discuss Freedom of Expression and Accountability for Online Hate
SINGAPORE: A panel of academics, lawyers, and media professionals will gather on Saturday (July 8) to discuss the unchecked rise of political hate sites in Singapore and the need for accountability. Hosted at Palms Bistro, this event is organized by The Asia Centre, The Independent Singapore, and Wake Up Singapore, aiming to shed light on why political hate sites should not thrive without consequence.
Experts, including Dr. James Gomez, Regional Director of The Asia Centre, Kumaran Pillai, publisher of The Independent Singapore, and lawyers Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss and Wendy Low, will provide their insights. Moderated by Craig Teo, the panel will explore how hate sites impact activists, journalists, and opposition figures who are frequently targeted by smear campaigns and harassment.
The Asia Centre will also release a report on how hate sites affect freedom of expression in Singapore. The report highlights the narrow legal constraints imposed on critics of the one-party government, juxtaposed with the lack of action against hate sites that target these critics. It recommends five steps for addressing online hate, including monitoring hate speech, using UN mechanisms to engage the Singaporean government on expression rights, advocating for legal reforms, and developing technology to detect hate speech.
This forum will call for both local and international action to foster safer online spaces for open political expression, aiming to support democratic aspirations without risking social instability.
