Communications Stop Order a big step to prevent information leaks

AT the last parliament sitting in March before prorogation, the House passed the new Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Bill. First tabled by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in February, the legislation sparked much discussion for one of its key features - a Communications Stop Order (CSO) - that can be triggered during serious or emergency incidents such as a terrorist attack.

In a nutshell, the CSO - once activated - makes it illegal for people, even members of the media, to make, exhibit or communicate pictures or films of the incident location. They are also not allowed to communicate text or audio messages about the ongoing security operations in the area. The media outlets that are granted official access to incident areas can record and film the events for future use, such as for post-incident reporting.

It is understandable why the authorities have taken such measures to prevent the unnecessary spread of misinformation during a crisis situation. As Second Home Affairs Minister Josephine Teo pointed out during the debate on the Bill, "the best laid plans of the police can be thwarted by a stray tweet or social media live stream".