Singapore passes law banning photos of terror attack sites

Singapore’s parliament on March 21 passed a law related to the handling of terror attacks, which bans taking photos and videos at the attack sites and unofficial information about security operations (Source: singaporedaily)

Singapore’s parliament on March 21 passed a law related to the handling of terror attacks, which bans taking photos and videos at the attack sites and unofficial information about security operations.

The bill includes provisions to ban anyone from taking videos or photographs of the area of a serious incident, such as a terror attack. Police can also ban communication of text or audio messages about the security operations in the area.

The Singaporean government said affluent financial hubs are prime targets for insurgents, and during attacks elsewhere live broadcasts unwittingly helped attackers to anticipate moves against them.

Josephine Teo, second Minister of Singapore’s Home Affairs Ministry, stressed that the measure would only be applied in specific areas and would be lifted when security operations are over.

Reporting is allowed, just not live reporting and only selected media agencies are allowed to access the area for later coverage, she added.

The law is part of a Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill 2018.

The terrorist threat facing Southeast Asia is growing as fighters return to the region. Given this fact, regional defence ministers have pledged to boost multilateral cooperation to counter terrorism.

VNA

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