Singaporean students and faculty said Singapore’s policies on free speech are vague and often inconsistently enforced. They frequently referred to “out of bounds markers” restricting free speech, though few could explain exactly what the government deems unacceptable.
Ten journalists and four lawyers interviewed in Singapore said these rules are unclear, which can lead to confusion and a hesitancy to voice opinions.
“We’re trained to police ourselves,” said Kirsten Han, a widely read blogger and activist. “There’s a sense about how you have to be careful and can’t say anything too specific.”
She also cited recent legal warnings sent to bloggers regarding material on their sites as the examples of the government regulating speech through “soft coercion.” Full story
