"Self-censorship is still widely practiced in Singapore, even in the Internet era. Every time the subject of "politics" is raised, there is a great uneasiness that one's phone is being tapped, e-mails are being monitored, and government stalkers are on the loose. Making this fear very real are the government's use of officers from the Internal Security Department for surveillance, and information that the Ministry of Home Affairs has the capacity to scan e-mail accounts and polices every area of space for political expression. "

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"As the space opened up in cyberspace, individuals, civil groups and opposition political parties began to put out information about themselves, their organisations, activities, emmbers into the public domain. Although the reach was limited, the Internet nevertheless re-presented a new space. There was a rush therefore to revolutionise the surveillance structure and modernize it when IT became a tool for communication and mobilisaton. Those working in the IT departments of the various agencies had to work double time to keep up with developments. Hitherto, all other channels of mass communication was restricted, but with more information going online, surveillance had to move to the Internet. This involved monitoring the information that individuals and groups put out through mail lists and websites. This information is gathered, stored, analysed and used for profiling. When needed such information is used against these individuals and groups to prosecute them in the courts. Additionally, intra-group communication is intercepted to learn in advance of plans and activities. This is may involve both technical interception as well as information passed on by agents and moles already part of the organisation and on an individual’s or groups’ internal mailing list."

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"Therefore, any attempt to use the e-mail or SMS (short message system) to send out alternative political information will almost always get any of the following responses: "Take me off your mailing list"; "I am not interested in such messages"; "Don't send me any more messages." Suspicion is the flavor of the day. The alternative is total avoidance of anything even vaguely political. What more the use of technology to promote it?"

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"Take the following email exchange when a postgraduate student attached an article on Singapore politics to his classmates in January 2002.

“Attached is a newly penned article by me. For your reading pleasure and comments :) Thanks.”

This is the reply that came to it.

'I am rather shocked with what you have shared in your articles through this channel. Pardon me even though you may see it as just a "sharing" to your fellow course mates, however, I personally do not see the class' emails available to you is for your "circulation or sharing" of article with ‘political implications’.

First of all, I do not think that this group should become a platform of forum for sharing and discussion on political matters. These addresses were created to disseminate course information.

Secondly, I recall that all articles with political agenda should obtain a permit before it can be circulated in Singapore; if you wish to do so, would appreciate if you could restrict to another channel and invite us to email view it there.

Thirdly, you would agree with me that we certainly do not wish to see this becoming another incident similar to the "Fateha" incident whereby his personal sharing in the internet has incurred condemnation from the Singapore Government; one can never be too careful to tell how things will eventually evolve to, right?

Finally, I do not know what others in the group think but if you so wish to continue, please erase my email address for such circulation in the future in case "Mata catch" (arrested by the police), many of us have family you know.'

The above shows the kind of paranoia that leads to self-censorship on the Internet. But more importantly observers have to take note that in Singapore there is a small but determined minority that does not want to be “stressed out” by e-mail with political content and considers messages of that kind to be spam!

Civil society groups and political parties (especially the opposition) are actually sensitive to Internet monitoring. So much so, apart from administrative co-ordination, critical information is largely exchanged face to face and in private setting. It is also partly because in such circles, many know that their ranks are already penetrated by surveillance agents who might be reporting back all activities anyway."

Taken from James Gomez, Internet Politics: Surveillance & Intimidation in Singapore, (Singapore & Bangkok: Think Centre, 2002), ISBN 981-04-5563-1, pp. 132.