Sun Xueling on tackling sexually explicit materials on Telegram

The online platform Telegram has, to date, not responded to police requests to remove access to accounts that disseminate sexually explicit materials, though “some progress” has recently been made in engaging it on the issue. Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said this in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 22). She was replying to an MP’s question on what is being done to tackle the rising number of Telegram channels selling non-consensual and illegally obtained sexually explicit materials. Ms Sun said the effectiveness of enforcement depends on the responsiveness of the online service. She said Singapore has updated its laws, such as by introducing the Online Criminal Harms Act this year. When it takes effect progressively from the first quarter of next year, the police can issue a Disabling Direction to online platforms such as Telegram to prevent materials from being accessed by Singapore users, and it will be an offence not to comply. Access-blocking, app removal or service restriction orders can also be issued to Internet service providers to restrict access to the platform. The Code of Practice for Online Safety, which took effect in July this year, also requires six designated social media services with significant reach or impact to put in place systems to minimise exposure to harmful content for users in Singapore. Ms Sun said the authorities periodically review the list to see if other services, such as Telegram, need to be added.