TOC Still Refused to Submit Further Information About Funding Sources to IMDA

Many things have happened in the past few months thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Singapore has since seen the closure of dining in food establishments, the reopening of dining in for five vaccinated individuals, and the return of only two people being able to dine in together.

All these things have changed, but some things still haven’t.

Case in point – The Online Citizen‘s tenacity to keep their platform running even after being embroiled in multiple controversies hotter than Singapore’s weather.

TOC’s Class License And Platforms Suspended

If you haven’t been keeping up with the whole saga involving The Online Citizen, or TOC, here’s some context: they’re actually a registered Internet Content Provider (ICP) that focuses on Singaporean party political content.

They are a subscription-based platform where people can pick certain topics without having to reveal their identity, all for the price of $120 a year.

Although sites like that are required to declare all their funding sources to ensure there are no foreign parties trying to influence the political scene in Singapore, TOC has failed to do so.

According to Section 12 of the Broadcasting Act, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has the right to cancel or suspend the licence of a broadcasting licensee if it is found to have failed to comply with any condition stated.

Since 2019, TOC stopped declaring their funding sources and also failed to explain some discrepancies in their foreign advertising revenue – to which lawyer Lim Tean claimed to be a simple mistake.

On 7 September 2021, IMDA had asked for TOC to explain themselves – but they did not.

This has led to the IMDA suspending TOC’s class license on 14 September, which prevents them from running their website and social media sites.

TOC then went offline since 16 September.

IMDA also held that if TOC still failed to provide such funding information by 28 September, their class license would be cancelled for good.

TOC Has “No Intention” Of Providing The Information

Well, that final deadline has since passed, and TOC remains staunch about their decision not to comply with IMDA’s requirements.

TOC announced on 28 September that they will not be submitting any more information to the IMDA with regards to this case.

Terry Xu, the chief editor of TOC, stated that they have never received any foreign funding.

“IMDA’s invalidation of TOC’s subscription model in 2019 which has been in existence since 2014 is nothing but harassment against TOC and intimidation of TOC’s subscribers,” he added.

They have also since filed a judicial review against IMDA’s suspension of their platforms, claiming that such conditions weren’t part of the terms of their signed declaration with IMDA.

On 29 September, the IMDA has also said that they have noted TOC’s intentions, or lack thereof, to provide the necessary information and comply with the terms of their license and the Broadcasting Act.

A spokesperson responded: “IMDA reserves the right to take further action, in accordance with the law.”

They also declined to comment on the judicial review.

Well, hold on to your popcorn, folks, for the saga doesn’t seem to be coming to an end.

Or maybe it has?

Read Also:

• Organiser & Influencers Fined for Breaking COVID-19 Rules; Organiser Has Posted Image on Facebook
• Kenny Leck Admitted to Delaying Payments But Said, ‘Which Small Businesses Don’t Have Delayed Payments?’

Featured Image: Screengrab from TOC website & Instagram / Facebook (The Online Citizen Asia)