9/18/2019 Singapore | Global Network Initiative 10, police officers of the rank of sergeant or higher or certain members of the armed forces may require any person to provide any information in their possession relating to a potential offence under this act. This could include the content/metadata of customers’ communications in the possession of Telco Operators. Where a Justice of the Peace in Singapore considers that an offence under the OSA may have occurred, they may issue a search warrant under Section 15 of the OSA allowing a police officer to search any premises covered by the warrant. However, Section 15(5) incorporates a wide carve-out which allows police officers of the rank of sergeant or above to execute search orders without judicial approval in cases of emergency. Oversight of the Use of Powers Other than as discussed in the relevant sections above and below, there is generally little independent oversight of the broad powers granted to government agencies in Singapore. Singapore administrative law does however provide for a judicial review mechanism which allows for the review by the courts of executive actions that are alleged to be ultra vires (outside the scope of the powers of the relevant executive body). Censorship-related Powers The Singapore government takes the view that censorship of political, racial, religious issues is necessary to avoid upsetting Singapore’s society. Censorship occurs on television, in films, in print media, music, video games and the arts. A government agency can control customer communications under the TA and the IMDA is the main government body tasked with regulating these entities (together with other regulatory agencies). There is no specific content censorship for telecommunications over phone calls or texts (which are not published) but the Minister of Communications and Information can give the IMDA directions to censor messages on the network under section 58(3) of TA. INTERNET CODE OF PRACTICE, IMDA AND BROADCASTING (CLASS LICENCE) NOTIFICATION https://clfr.globalnetworkinitiative.org/country/singapore/ 10/13