Preventing Extremist Ideologies and Radicalisation from Propagating in Online Gaming Platforms
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim’s inquiry on preventing extremist radicalisation on online gaming platforms like Roblox among youths. Minister Josephine Teo stated the Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act allows the Infocomm Media Development Authority to disable terrorism-related content, with future plans to include online games. Additionally, the Ministry of Home Affairs will introduce legislation against online criminal harms covering all communication mediums used for terror-related activities. A whole-of-society approach is pursued through the SGSecure movement and organisations like the Religious Rehabilitation Group to build awareness and resilience. The Minister emphasized that while regulations are crucial, family and community support remain vital to the government’s zero-tolerance strategy.
Transcript
11 Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Communications and Information what steps has the Ministry taken or will be taking to monitor and prevent messages of extremist ideologies and radicalisation from propagating in online gaming platforms, such as Roblox, among youths in Singapore.
Mrs Josephine Teo: Singapore adopts a zero-tolerance approach towards radicalisation and any form of extremist ideology.
The Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, which took effect from 1 February 2023, provides the Infocomm Media Development Authority with levers to disable access to online content that advocates or instructs on terrorism or violence. While the levers are currently limited to social media services, the Ministry for Communications and Information will be looking into measures to strengthen online safety in other services. This includes online games that can be accessed via various platforms, including App Stores. More details will be announced when ready.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be introducing legislation to combat online criminal harms, which will cover content that incites terror-related activities. Levers under the legislation will cover all mediums of online communication through which criminal activities could be conducted.
A whole-of-society approach is necessary to mitigate the dangers of extremist ideologies and radicalisation in Singapore. For example, MHA has also been reaching out to neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces to raise public awareness of the threat of terrorism and online radicalisation and the importance of early reporting. This is done through the SGSecure movement, as well as through community organisations, such as the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) and the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group (ACG). For example, RRG and ACG conduct regular community outreach through visits to RRG Resource and Counselling Centre, assembly talks and youth forums to sensitise members of the public to the terrorism threat and strengthen the community's resilience against extremist ideas. Regulations and interventions by the Government, are only part of the solution. Support from the community, including families, remains vital. The Government will continue to work with the community to find ways to educate the public on radicalisation.