List of websites blocked in Singapore
This is a list of websites that are blocked in Singapore. These websites are mainly unlicensed gambling, pimping (known as vice related activities), copyright infringement/piracy, and for spreading falsehoods. Some websites may be blocked because they are suspected scam websites.[1] However, websites that are blocked in Singapore are easily circumvented by a DNS change without the need to use a VPN.[2]
As of 2019, there were 202 vice-related websites blocked by Singaporean authorities.[3]
Table of blocked websites
[edit]Site name | Domain or URL | Type of site | Reason | Applicable law | Implementation date | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
123Movies | 123movies.as | Illegal streaming site | copyright infringement | Copyright Act | September 2022 | [4] |
Ashley Madison | ashleymadison.com | online dating service | "promotes and facilitates extramarital affairs" | November 2013 | [5] | |
Asia Sentinel | asiasentinel.com | America-based blog about Asia | "not complying with POFMA correction direction" | POFMA | 2 June 2023 | [6] |
Lawyers for Liberty | lawyersforliberty.org | human rights NGO | "non-compliance" with a correction direction issued against a statement on its website | POFMA | 23 January 2020 | [7] |
The Pirate Bay | thepiratebay.org | BitTorrent index of digital content | copyright infringing/piracy | Copyright Act | May 2018 | [8] |
Playboy | playboy.com | American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine | nudity | 1996 | [9] | |
Pornhub | pornhub.com | pornography video sharing site | Blocked due to pornography | May 2016 | [10] | |
Redtube | redtube.com | pornography video sharing site | "symbolic statement" of the country's societal values | May 2018 | [11] | |
Solarmovie | Solarmovie.ph | BitTorrent index of digital content | copyright infringing/piracy | Copyright Act | February 2016 | [8][12] |
SportsBay | sportsbay.es | Illegal streaming site | copyright infringement | Copyright Act | September 2022 | [4] |
States Times Review | Socio-political website | defamation of Singapore government | POFMA | November 2018 | [13][14] | |
YouPorn | youporn.com | pornography video sharing site | "symbolic statement" of the country's societal values | May 2018 | [11] | |
KickassTorrents | BitTorrent index of digital content | copyright infringing/piracy | Copyright Act | May 2018 | [8] | |
WatchSeries | watchseries.ninja | Illegal streaming site | copyright infringement | Copyright Act | September 2022 | [4] |
Zao Bao Daily | zaobaodaily.com | inauthentic news website | "potential hostile information threat" | Broadcasting Act | October 2024 | [15][16] |
Singapore Info Map | singaporeinfomap.com | inauthentic news website | "potential hostile information threat" | Broadcasting Act | October 2024 | [15][16] |
Singapore Era | Singaporeera.com | inauthentic news website | "potential hostile information threat" | Broadcasting Act | October 2024 | [15][16] |
Singapore Dao Times | Singdaotimes.com | inauthentic news website | "potential hostile information threat" | Broadcasting Act | October 2024 | [15][16] |
Today in Singapore | Todayinsg.com | inauthentic news website | "potential hostile information threat" | Broadcasting Act | October 2024 | [15][16] |
Lion City Life | Lioncitylife.com | inauthentic news website | "potential hostile information threat" | Broadcasting Act | October 2024 | [15][16] |
Singapura Now | Singapuranow.com | inauthentic news website | "potential hostile information threat" | Broadcasting Act | October 2024 | [15][16] |
Voice of Asia Singapore | Voasg.com | inauthentic news website | "potential hostile information threat" | Broadcasting Act | October 2024 | [15][16] |
Singdao PR | Singdaopr.com | inauthentic news website | "potential hostile information threat" | Broadcasting Act | October 2024 | [15][16] |
Alamak.io | Alamak.io | inauthentic news website | "potential hostile information threat" | Broadcasting Act | October 2024 | [15][16] |
GenderGP | gendergp.com | Online gender clinic | public health risk | December 2024 | [17] |
Media coverage
[edit]On 1 March 2022, the Asia Video Industry Association's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) announced that it had obtained a court order from the Singapore High Court for the blocking of 30 illegal streaming sites and nearly 150 domain names associated with those sites.[18]
On 28 September 2022, CAP stated that it had obtained a further court order for the blocking of a total of 245 domain names which provided access to 30 illegal streaming sites.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ cue (5 March 2023). "Fake ST, Zaobao and CNA news sites that promote gambling detected and blocked | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ "53 piracy websites just got blocked in Singapore, but it won't faze the internet-savvy - Coconuts". coconuts.co. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
- ^ "202 vice websites blocked by police and IMDA so far: Shanmugam". sg.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d "More than 240 domains associated with illegal streaming sites blocked in Singapore, says Asia Pacific video industry trade association". CNA. 28 September 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- ^ "MDA blocks access to Ashley Madison website". TODAYonline. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "Singapore to block Asia Sentinel website for not complying with POFMA correction direction". CNA. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Government orders that Lawyers for Liberty's website be blocked in Singapore". CNA. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ a b c hermes (21 May 2018). "53 piracy websites blocked in battle to curb copyright breach". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ Loo, Gregory (14 October 2015). "Is Playboy set for Singapore after dropping nude pictures? MDA says..." The New Paper. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "Singaporeans last almost 10 minutes watching porn: Study | Coconuts Singapore". Coconuts. 19 December 2014. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Singapore bans two porn websites in symbolic move". Reuters. 23 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ hermesauto (16 February 2016). "Solarmovie.ph is first piracy website to be blocked under amended Copyright Act". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "States Times Review to close down after getting blocked in S'pore by authorities". mothership.sg. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ "States Times Review website live again after being blocked by Singapore government". 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Singapore blocks 10 websites set up by foreign actors over potential hostile information threat". CNA. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "ANNEX B – LIST OF WEBSITES" (PDF).
- ^ Tan, Judith (4 December 2024). "MOH warns British teleconsultation service to stop providing puberty blockers to S'pore users". The Straits Times. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "SINGAPORE COURT ORDERS LARGEST BLOCK OF ILLEGAL STREAMING SITES IN SINGAPORE : Asia Video Industry Association". avia.org. Retrieved 7 October 2024.