23 Feb 2005

Feeling Paranoid Yet?

Big Brother




Couple the recently introduced 'infrastructure' outlined below with the following quote from Garry Rodan (1997):

A central feature of the Singapore strategy on Internet control is the attempt to bring this medium under the same tight regimen as other electronic and non-electronic media. Penalties are applied at various levels of information provision or newsgroup hosting. These combine with legislation, open to wide interpretation, outlawing "interference in domestic politics" (as in the case of international press) or content which "brings the government into hatred or contempt" (as in the internet). When the political will to obstruct certain information and views is coupled with such variables as an efficient and technically competent bureaucracy, an established regime of political intimidation and surveillance, and embedded corporatist structures facilitating cooperation between state officials and administrators across public and private sectors, you have a formidable mix.


http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=7698536

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore is to spend $23 million over three years to battle online hackers and other forms of "cyber-terrorism" in one of the world's most connected countries, government officials said Tuesday.

Describing the infrastructure behind the Internet as a "nerve system" in Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan said a new National Cyber-Threat Monitoring Center would maintain round-the-clock detection and analysis of computer virus threats.

"We cannot afford to treat the threats from cyber terrorists, cyber criminals and irresponsible hackers lightly," Tan said in a speech while unveiling an information-technology security "master plan" in the tech-savvy city-state.

"Infocomm security is as important in protecting Singapore as is physical security at our borders," added Tan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Security and Defense.

Singapore has one of the world's highest Internet penetration rates, with 50-60 percent of its 4.2 million people living in homes wired to the Internet.

The affluent, predominantly ethnic Chinese island has also steadily tightened security since the September 2001 attacks on the United States, from patrols of heavily armed police in busy shopping districts to tighter security at border points.

In 2003, Singapore passed strict legislation to allow monitoring of all computer activity and for police to take pre-emptive action to protect state computers from cyber attack.

Tan said the money would also be used to help businesses tighten security for online financial transactions while guiding them to work with the government in maintaining cyber security.

The Cyber-Threat Monitoring Center will link up with companies that provide anti-virus systems and governments running similar centers, including the United States and Australia. It is expected to be fully operational by the second half of 2006.

© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.

25 comments:

dfgd said...

And then suddenly as we turn the corner and the lack of narcotics and chewing gum kicks in we see the large eye in the sky pointing directly at us, an ominous silence descends.

To yet again utter the very much over used term of dear departed gonzo.

"Fear and Loathing in Singabloodypore."

dfgd said...

Follow the link to http://tornandfrayed.typepad.com/tornandfrayed
/2005/02/hunter_s_thomps.html
Will Singapore ever generate such a journalist, would Singapore tolerate such insight?

Han said...

technically competent bureaucracyI guess it becomes a technological arms race then eh?

Honestly though, I'd stick to my argument that there's no way the state can keep up with us as long as we maintain our technological edge.

dfgd said...

Some feel that bloggers should band together in order to try and protect each other,

http://izreloaded.tripod.com/
february2005.htm#
freemojtabaandarash

Anonymous said...

Living in Singapore sounds like being in a Truman show. Everyone is Truman and the 'creator' need to know every step Truman take, every move Truman make, and every thing Truman say. Creepy.

Anonymous said...

if george orwells had been brought back to life he would have prefered dead.

the greatest evil that Osama wrought wasn't 911, but the excuse/justification (terrorism)and mechanism (pre-emptive doctrine) world leaders needed for totalitarianism
"big brother is watching"

Anonymous said...

Mcbloodydermott!, you're one funny guy. lol

dfgd said...

who mentioned block. Currently engaged in monitoring, when election time comes we shall see how these new powers are utilised.

We are currently able to post here, not because the PAP allows us to. But because they are unable to or unwilling to block, blogger.com. Owned by google.

dfgd said...

oldmcdonald
It is quoted and is obviously separate from the Reuters article. It's my interpretation.

As for 'outdated', simply because an issue was highlighted in the 90's makes something outdated?

If the issue of authoritarian rule still exists and has existed during the 60's, 70's 80's, 90's unitl the present, does that mean that the underlying current of state policies should be viewed in isolation as opposed to a strengthening of past, present and future authoritarian legislation.

Jesus was crucified 2000 years ago and people still refer to that outdated debate.

dfgd said...

Of course you can visit outside countries, but you got to come back with the money or get labelled as a 'quitter'.

And the media likes to claim that outside Singapore it's very dangerous.Kinda like the Truman Show.

I've been living in the UK and have yet to be attacked or mugged in the street.

Try asking a member of the PAP what happened to the money they loaned the Suharto Regime?

Anonymous said...

"Of course you can visit outside countries, but you got to come back with the money or get labelled as a 'quitter'" LOL

"And the media likes to claim that outside Singapore it's very dangerous."

reminds me of a paragraph in Lexus and the olive tree, thomas friedmann (2nd ed, 1999)

(from memory)
during the cold war the soviets published a picture in their dailys showing americans queuing up for their breads. when i took a closer look, it was actually a picture of new yorkers forming outside (popular bakery) in the early morning.

btw, who said queuing outside Lim chee guan for 2 hours for Bak gua during CNY is a uniquely singaporean experience? =)

dfgd said...

oldmcdonald,

yes it is my theory, but calling it a conspiracy theory implies that I have no eveidence to support it, and that I am saying that its a few people in control. please explain how an argument that the state through the use of legislation is attempting to control... is a conspiracy theory?

Conspiracy theories are laid redundant by the counter argument that a small group of individuals are unable to assert such an extreme level of control because they have a small circle of influence.

Does the state in Singapore have a small circle of influence?

dfgd said...

The centre of my argument is that there is a lack of autonomy between the 'executive', the 'legislature' and the 'judiciary'. Add that to a pseudo-elected group that dominate almost every large corporation in Singapore.

They have a very large circle of influence.

dfgd said...

While living in Singapore there was murder a few blocks from where I lived, in Bukit Batok.

I think what is important is the constant referral to how 'safe' Singapore is compared to other countries. How, relatively 'free' of drugs.

Reported crime in Singapore has increased, mainly in terms of mobile phone theft. Here in the UK we call that getting, 'mugged' or 'robbed'. In Singapore it's called 'mobile theft'.

Anonymous said...

Surely legislation that is introduced to 'combat terrorism' or cameras being enstalled in schools can perform a dual function.

dfgd said...

Yes I do, its in the article quoted from Reuters and then linked to the secondary research of Garry Rodan.

"We cannot afford to treat the threats from cyber terrorists, cyber criminals and irresponsible hackers lightly," Tan said.

Garry Rodan highlights the law that saying nasty things about the government, thats government and not PAP is illegal, "These combine with legislation, open to wide interpretation, outlawing "interference in domestic politics" (as in the case of international press) or content which "brings the government into hatred or contempt"".

And yes a conspiracy theory can be undermined by referring to the circle of influence of a small group usually not being able to control or be fully aware of all intended and unintended consequences. Have a look at Karl Popper's 'Open Society and its Enemies'.

In sociologial theory it is usually referred to as 'methodological individualism'.

But in Singapore there is a lack of autonomy between the different institutions of the state, namely the executive, legislature and judiciary, pseudo-elected representatives, and large corporation.

Now that is a big group.

Care to provide the evidence that my belief is conspiracy. And then you can provide a counter argument that doesn't argue about unintended consequences. I await with baited breath.

Anonymous said...

It's not a myth that Singapore is safer than other countries. Of course the crime rate is going up, since when do crime rates, divorce rates and obesity rates go down?

In Singapore, you'd feel perfectly safe jogging in the parks at midnight.

Getting mugged means a real chance of getting killed, doesn't it? If there is no difference between Singapore-style theft and mugging, then New York is logically, as safe as Singapore.

Anonymous said...

This argument is getting ridiculous. Not only does the PAP "allow" us to visit other countries, it actively pumps in money into sending students abroad for scholarships, exchange programs, work visits, although there is always a high chance people won't want to come back.

And no one cares whether males leave their hair long. Accept perhaps people who look at long-haired males who can't pull off a long hairdo.

dfgd said...

sometimes these comments appear to have the attention span of a goldfish.

dfgd said...

yet again, merely attack the person and not his or her opinion.

dfgd said...

For some reason I believe that being able to comment anonymously attracts the trolls so I am disabling anonymous comment. From now on everyone who wishes to comment will have to be registered.
When the trolls have gone to feed elsewhere I may allow anonymous comment again.

Agagooga said...

Just like the Speakers Corner!

dfgd said...

Well unlike speakers corner, you don't have to submit the topic you are going to discuss, and you can't be arrested, and every registration requested will receive a positive response.

Agagooga said...

The differentials are not as much as are made out to be. If you don't do stupid things (jogging at 3am through crime-ridden neighbourhoods), you're generally okay.

dfgd said...

Ivan I never asserted that the UK is as safe as Sg. The question I asked was why do they keep banging on about it. Is it Singapores only redeeming feature?

And the validity, or assuming the true nature of official statistics is always very dubious. It usually has a lot to do with propaganda or political ideology.