PURPOSE

1. A blogging guideline is provided for staff in view of the recent legal cases in Singapore where even a student has been charged with sedition.


BACKGROUND

2. In October 2005, two bloggers have been charged with sedition for posting racist comments online. A 25 year-old and a 27 year-old were accused of posting racist comments on an online forum and on their blog-site. They are both being charged with committing a seditious act, by promoting feelings of ill-will and hostility between races in Singapore. Another 17 year old, an Adventist School student also faced 7 charges of sedition. On 27 October 2005, a fourth person was convicted for blogging racist remarks.

3. Lawyers warn that anybody who forwards seditious remarks to others via email can also be charged with abetment. A person is deemed to have committed an offence under the Sedition Act if he performs any act which has a seditious tendency, or conspires with any person to do so. It is also an offence to utter any seditious words or to print, publish, sell, distribute, reproduce or import any seditious publication.

4. First time offenders can be fined up to S$5,000 or be jailed for up to three years, or both. For subsequent offences, they can be jailed for up to five years and have their seditious publications forfeited and destroyed. The Sedition Act is in Chapter 290 of the Statues of Singapore. In Sep 2005, the Sedition Act was first used when 2 men were charged for making racist remarks on the Internet.


IMPLICATIONS FOR THE COMPANY

5. For COMPANY staff who choose to create or participate in a blog or other forms of online publishing or discussion, it is very much in company’s interest and in the staff’s own interest, to be aware of this sphere of information, interaction and idea exchange.

6. The following guidelines are provided for staff with regards to blogging.




COMPANY BLOGGING GUIDELINES


This guideline is developed to guide company staff who post or publish blogs for personal or educational purposes. It provides a roadmap for constructive, respectful, and productive dialogue between staff bloggers and others.


Personal Responsibility

Blogs and other forms of online discourse constitute a personal exchange of information. Staff are therefore personally responsible for their posts. It is important that staff are mindful that what is written will remain in the public for a long time. As such, you are advised to always protect your privacy.

Should you publish a blog or post to a blog and it has something to do with the work you do or subjects associated with the company, identify yourself with your name and, where relevant, include your role at the company. You should make it clear that you are speaking in your own personal capacity and not on behalf of the company. Use a disclaimer such as this: "The views on this site are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of my employer.”


Respect the company’s Confidential And Proprietary Information

Make sure you do not disclose or use company's confidential or proprietary information or that of any other person or company on any blog.

You should not use the company’s or any staff’s name to endorse or promote any product, opinion or cause.


Respect Your Audience

Be respectful to the company, fellow employees, students, customers, partners and competitors. Show proper consideration for others' privacy and topics that may be considered sensitive, objectionable or inflammatory. This includes areas such as race, politics and religion.

Respect copyright, fair comment and financial disclosure laws.

Do not cite or reference clients, partners or suppliers without their approval.

If you are writing about co-workers or posting pictures which may show them, seek their approval first. When in doubt, don't do it.

Where Intervention Is Required

Instances that may require intervention would be blogs that have content that infringe on intellectual property rights, invade privacy or carry topics that may be considered sensitive, objectionable or inflammatory, such as in matters of race, politics and religion.

Blogging issues should be resolved at the department level, with constructive counseling. Involve the company directors or designated staff counsellors. Staff shall be personally responsible for what they write.

Press Inquiries

Blog postings may also generate media coverage. If a member of the media contacts you about an company-related blog posting or requests company information of any kind, please contact the Corporate Communications Office. You should also contact the Corporate Communications Office for clarification on whether specific information relating to company has been publicly disclosed before you blog it.