“September 11 fallout in Singapore will also take its toll on the Internet. Just before Islam took centre stage in the national media starting late 2001, the discussion group Cyber Ummah was the main web forum for Malay and Muslim affairs. Discussions were robust and on one occasion it gave rise to threats of a civil suit initiated by a PAP politician against a poster for libel which was settled out of court. But the setting up of Fateha.com took the discussion of Muslim affairs to a greater debate when it accused the PAP of collaborating with the US and denying female Muslims student the right to wear their head scarves – “tudung”. The Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) publicly admitted to tracking the website for some time and asked Fateha.com to register their site in accordance with (rules put in place in 1996) requiring websites which spread, promote and discuss political issues to be registered. SBA's Internet Code of Practice prohibits material which is "objectionable on the grounds of public interest, public morality, public order, public security, national harmony, or is otherwise prohibited by applicable Singapore laws". Failure to comply with the code can result in fines and other unspecified sanctions.”

Tune in next time for “Snooping” and “Self-Censorship”