Singapore labels Web sites to protect citizens

Singapore announced new measures last week aimed at protecting its Internet users from unwanted cyber 'pollution' and pornography.

Singapore's National Internet Advisory Council (Niac), which comprises a panel of government, legal and IT experts, said it wants to opt for a labelling system which would prevent users from accessing sites deemed unsuitable or undesirable.

Backing away from the more draconian curbs placed on the Internet in China and Vietnam - where governments censor Net content using gateways - Niac recommended that local Internet service providers regulate themselves using the internationally recognised Pics (Platform for Internet Content Selection) system.

Developed by the US-based Recreational Software Advisory Council, Pics provides labelling rather like the rating system used for films. Singapore has particularly tough laws against pornography, which prohibit the sale of magazines such as Playboy.