Info-communications Media Development Authority Act 2016 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 7 · Competition and Consumer Protection
66. Written orders and financial penalties
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2026. 2 amendments in all.
The Authority may issue written orders to a regulated person, a designated media licensee, or the owner or controller of an essential resource, with respect to any provision of this Part, any direction issued under this Part or any provision of a code of practice or standard of performance that applies to that person, licensee, owner or controller.
Where the Authority is satisfied that a regulated person, a designated media licensee, or the owner or controller of an essential resource, is infringing, likely to infringe or has infringed any provision of this Part, any direction issued under this Part or any provision of any code of practice or standard of performance, that applies to that person, licensee, owner or controller, the Authority’s written order under subsection (1) may include one or more of the following:
regulated person
“regulated person” means —(a)in the case of section 65, a newspaper company; or(b)in any other case, the holder of a broadcasting licence or the proprietor of a newspaper,that is specified by the Minister, by notification in the Gazette, to be a regulated person;
requiring that person, licensee, owner or controller to comply with that provision or direction or cease infringing that provision or direction;
specifying any procedure or action to be observed or taken by that person, licensee, owner or controller;
imposing any restriction on the activities of that person, licensee, owner or controller;
requiring that person, licensee, owner or controller to modify or terminate any agreement, decision or concerted practice;
requiring that person, licensee, owner or controller to modify or cease any conduct.
Where the Authority is satisfied that a regulated person, a designated media licensee, or the owner or controller of an essential resource, has infringed any provision of this Part, any direction issued under this Part or any provision of a code of practice or standard of performance, that applies to that person, licensee, owner or controller, the Authority may, in addition to or instead of a written order described in subsection (2), require that person, licensee, owner or controller to pay a financial penalty of an amount not exceeding the higher of the following amounts:
media
“media” means —(a)a film as defined in section 2(1) of the Films Act 1981;(b)a newspaper;(c)a broadcasting service;(d)a publication as defined in section 2 of the Undesirable Publications Act 1967; or(e)any other medium of communication of information, entertainment or other matter to the public (or a section of the public) that the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, specify,and “media industry” and “media service” have corresponding meanings;
10% of the annual turnover of that part of the business of that person, licensee, owner or controller in respect of which the infringement occurred, as ascertained from the latest audited accounts of that person, licensee, owner or controller;
$1 million.
Before issuing a written order to, or imposing a financial penalty on, a regulated person, a designated media licensee, or the owner or controller of an essential resource, under this section, the Authority must, unless the Authority considers that it is not practicable or desirable to do so in any particular case, give notice to that person, licensee, owner or controller of —
essential resource
“essential resource” means any apparatus, accessory, system, service, information or other resource of any kind that is —(a)used or intended to be used in connection with the provision of any media service; and(b)specified by the Authority, by notification in the Gazette, to be an essential resource;
the Authority’s intention to issue the written order (including its effect) or impose the financial penalty; and
the time within which written representations may be made to the Authority with respect to the proposed written order or financial penalty.
The Authority may, by written notice to a regulated person, a designated media licensee, or the owner or controller of an essential resource, issue such written order or impose such financial penalty, as the Authority considers appropriate —
where written representation is made by that person, licensee, owner or controller in accordance with subsection (4) — after considering that representation; or
where no written representation is made — after the time mentioned in subsection (4)(b) lapses.
Subject to section 68(6), a written order or a requirement to pay a financial penalty under this section takes effect at such time (after service of the notice under subsection (5)) as the Authority specifies in that notice.
The Authority may, at any time, suspend or revoke a written order (or any part of it) given under this section.
Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any written order issued under this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
A reference in this section to the issuing of a written order includes a reference to the varying of that written order.
[Deleted by Act 13 of 2026 wef 02/10/2026]