Requirement to submit donors’ NRIC numbers not new, The Online Citizen complied previously: IMDA

SINGAPORE — The requirement for websites to provide the National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) numbers of their donors has been in place since 2013. This is for sites that propagate, promote and discuss political issues.

The Online Citizen (TOC) is aware of this and had complied with the requirements in the past, the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) said. 

IMDA's response came on Wednesday (May 22), in reply to claims by TOC's editor Terry Xu that his socio-political website will be closed by the end of the month if he did not provide the NRIC numbers of his donors to the authorities.

On May 14, Mr Xu wrote on his personal Facebook account that the IMDA “demanded” that the TOC prove that the money it collected from its subscribers was “legit”.

Failing which, he added that TOC would be closed by the end of the month by the IMDA.

The post is no longer visible to the public. However, another post on May 15 by Mr Xu stated that IMDA is asking for the donors to be listed with their NRIC numbers, which he said TOC would not have the authority to do “under the new privacy regulations”.

In response to TODAY’s queries, an IMDA spokesperson said that the requirements have been in place since 2013, and “were communicated earlier” to Mr Xu.

“The Online Citizen had previously complied with the regulatory requirements, including furnishing NRIC numbers of donors in 2014 while it was under the management of The Opinion Collaborative Ltd.”

Under the guidelines issued by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) on Aug 31 last year, organisations will not be allowed to collect, use and disclose NRIC numbers from Sept 1 this year, unless it is required by law. 

As the collection of NRIC numbers is a regulatory requirement by IMDA, the spokesperson said that TOC is permitted to collect the information.

Speaking to TODAY, Mr Xu acknowledged that he did submit the NRIC numbers of his donors in 2014 to the then-Media Development Authority (MDA). The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and the MDA merged to form the IMDA in 2016.

He claimed that he stopped providing them from 2015 onwards as some of his donors were not comfortable with disclosing their NRIC numbers.

“(The) MDA did not make a fuss when we dropped the NRIC,” he said.

Mr Xu also said that the requirements were never mentioned in the documents that he had to submit.

“My argument to (IMDA) is that the declaration required of me in (Registration Form C For Class Licensable Broadcasting Services) is that I have to ensure the donor is Singaporean. I do not have to prove to IMDA that this person is a Singaporean,” he said.

The requirement to provide the NRIC numbers of donors stems from a law under the Broadcasting (Class Licence) Notification.

It requires registered Internet Content Providers (ICPs) that “propagate, promote or discuss political issues relating to Singapore” to submit undertakings and statutory declarations every year.

The IMDA spokesperson said that this includes the “declaration of funding sources, which requires the provision of NRIC numbers to verify the sources of funds”.

“These undertakings and statutory declarations are to prevent the websites from being controlled by, or coming under the influence of, foreign entities or funding, and ensure that Singapore politics remains a matter for Singaporeans alone,” the spokesperson said.

Where there is incomplete information, IMDA will seek rectification and clarifications from the registered ICPs.

“If the registered ICPs are not able to verify the source, they must not accept the funds,” the spokesperson said.

However, Mr Xu dismissed this and said that a foreign entity would “find it easier to fund TOC via the advertising platforms” rather than posing as a subscriber or a donor.

He added that if his platform was “indeed funded by foreign entities”, the Government should have “surely found out by now with its extensive control on information” and shut TOC down.

This, he said, was “sheer harassment by the authorities”.

“The insistence on seeking NRIC numbers is simply to deter would-be donors from supporting TOC financially.”

Mr Xu said that another consequence he foresees is that he would have to return close to S$9,000 to his donors if he is unable to prove that they are Singaporeans.

He said this amount is used for the general upkeep of the website, which he said is not enough to cover the annual hosting fees.

Mr Xu did not elaborate about what the TOC will do now, but opposition party leader and lawyer Lim Tean said that he will be representing the organisation in its dispute with the IMDA.