Singapore legislation
Clause 32
Clause 32
Directions to discontinue telecommunication services
(1)
The Minister may, at any time upon or after making an activation order and when the activation order is in effect, give a direction in writing under this section, individually or as a class, to any telecommunication licensee within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act (Cap. 323) (called in this Part a telecommunication licensee).
(2)
A direction under this section may require the telecommunication licensee to whom the direction is given to take a specific action, or stop taking a specific action, during the period an activation order relating to a serious incident or threatened serious incident is in effect —
to prevent or avoid prejudicing the effective conduct of an ongoing law enforcement activity relating to the serious incident or threatened serious incident; or
to avoid or prevent endangering the safety of the public, or any law enforcement officer during an ongoing law enforcement activity relating to the serious incident or threatened serious incident, by the provision of a telecommunication service about the serious incident or threatened serious incident.
(3)
Without limiting subsection (2), a direction under this section to a telecommunication licensee may include —
stopping messages carried by a telecommunication service provided by the telecommunication licensee;
prohibiting or restricting the provision, by the telecommunication licensee, of all or any telecommunication services and in such circumstances as specified in the direction; or
prohibiting or restricting the use of telecommunications by the telecommunication licensee in all cases or of such cases as may be considered necessary.
(4)
However, nothing in this section authorises the giving of any direction prohibiting the use of any telecommunications for the purpose of making or answering signals of distress.
(5)
In making a direction under this section, it is not necessary for the Minister to give any person who may be affected by the direction a chance to be heard before the direction is given.