Company behind website TOC told to register under Broadcasting Act: MDA

The Media Development Authority on Tuesday (Sep 30) notified The Opinion Collaborative (TOC Ltd), the corporate entity behind alternative media site The Online Citizen, to register under the Broadcasting (Class Licence) Notification of the Broadcasting Act.In a media release, MDA said it had assessed the TOC website, and found that it engages in the propagation, promotion or discussion of political issues relating to Singapore.

"As a corporate entity, TOC Ltd is susceptible to foreign influence through the receipt of foreign funding. MDA will therefore require that TOC Ltd undertake not to receive foreign funding for its provision, management and/or operation as part of the registration. MDA’s registration requirement seeks to uphold the principle that politics must remain a matter for Singapore and Singaporeans alone," it stated.

MDA added that the registration does not entail changes to the content standards and will not affect what TOC may publish on its website, as with other registered sites such as The Independent and Mothership.sg.

On the same day, TOC Ltd said in a report on The Online Citizen: "TOC Ltd has received the request, and is studying the registration requirements. The social enterprise will be discussing the details with MDA. A response will be made in due course."