China bans violent online games

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For one, this I agree with what China is doing…

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BEIJING - China has banned websites from advertising or linking to games that glamorise violence, as part of a campaign to ensure social stability ahead of the 60th anniversary of communist rule on Oct 1.

The Culture Ministry said games that promote drug use, obscenities, gambling, or crimes such as rape, vandalism and theft are "against public morality and the nation's fine cultural traditions".

"Such online games promote the glorification of mafia life ... and are a serious threat to the moral standards of society causing vulnerable young people to be adversely affected," the ministry said.

The ban on the websites starts immediately. No details were given on how the law would be implemented.

Some companies have already started internal investigations and removed some games from their websites. Oak Pacific Interactive, which runs popular websites such as mop.com and kaixin.com, told AFP it had scrapped several games, including "All corners of the country" which features black market deals, vendettas and street fights. AGENCIES

From TODAY, World – Thursday, 30-Jul-2009

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Don’t be a road menace

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Traffic Police on the lookout for errant motorists, cyclists

05:55 AM Jun 10, 2009

Letter from DSP Paul Tay

Assistant Director, Media Relations Public Affairs Department

Singapore Police Force

WE REFER to Mr Allan Zheng's letter, "Look beyond statistics" (June 1), posted at www.todayonline.com/voices. We wish to assure Mr Zheng that his earlier letter to the media on cyclists refusing to dismount at pedestrian crossings had received our attention. The Traffic Police has also replied directly to Mr Zheng with regard to his feedback sent in via the Police website on May 30.

Traffic Police shares Mr Zheng's concerns about the dangers posed by errant road users. In fact, our officers are constantly on the lookout for irresponsible road behaviour and will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant road users who breach the law.

Cyclists who fail to ride in an orderly manner and without due regard for the safety of others commit an offence that entails a composition amount of $20. In the last three years, an average of about 200 summonses was issued to cyclists who failed to ride safely. If charged in court for any of these offences, errant cyclists may be fined up to $1,000 or jailed up to three months. A subsequent offender may be fined up to $2,000 or jailed up to six months.

In his letter, Mr Zheng also raised the issue of motorists refusing to give way at pedestrian crossings. While pedestrians are required by law to use designated pedestrian crossings and obey traffic signals, motorists are also required to slow down when approaching pedestrian crossings to enable them to come to a complete stop for pedestrians to cross safely. Motorists who fail to do so commit an offence that entails a composition amount of up to $180 and six demerit points.

In the last three years, Traffic Police also issued an average of 100 summonses to motorists who had failed to give way to pedestrians at controlled intersections. Motorists who knock into pedestrians at such crossings can also be charged in court with dangerous driving.

Traffic Police will continue to reach out and educate the various road user groups via the media and also through other platforms such as regular road safety talks, exhibitions and public education materials. However, while we continue to enforce and educate, all road users - motorists and pedestrians alike - should also do their part by abiding by the rules and exercising care, caution and consideration at all times.

This would go a long way toward making the use of our roads a safer and more pleasant experience for all.

From TODAY, World – Wednesday, 10-Jun-2009; see the source article here.

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Web piracy? ‘C’est fini’

MEDIA LAW

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French lawmakers vote for tough punishment for illegal downloaders

PARIS - French lawmakers on Tuesday adopted a tough Bill to combat Internet piracy by cutting off the Web to illegal downloaders, after one of the sharpest debates of Nicolas Sarkozy's presidency.

The National Assembly, dominated by Mr Sarkozy's right-wing party, passed the Bill by a vote of 296 to 233 and the measure was set to go before the Senate for final approval yesterday.

The legislation, described as one of the toughest drafted against Internet piracy around the world, would punish those who pirate music and film by shutting down their access to the Internet for up to a year.

The Bill enjoys broad support from the music and film industry in France and abroad, but consumer groups and the Socialist opposition have warned it will be difficult to implement.

Under the Bill, a state agency known by the acronym Hadopi will be set up to track and punish those who pirate music and movies on the Internet, serving as a go-between for content providers and Internet service providers.

It will set up a "three-strikes" system for offenders who first receive an email warning, then a letter and finally lose their Internet account for up to a year if they are caught a third time.

Socialist deputy Patrick Bloche, who voted against the Bill, called it a "law of intimidation" that amounted to "a lose-lose situation for artists and for Internet users".

Supporters hope the Bill will wean Web users away from pirated films and music, and towards fledgling legal download sites.

More than 10,000 French filmmakers and musicians, from Johnny Hallyday to Catherine Deneuve, have signed a petition backing the Bill while the Directors Guild of America has thrown its weight behind the measure.

Consumer groups say the Bill is unnecessarily harsh on downloaders who would still have to continue paying their Internet subscription fees after they are cut off. AFP

From TODAY, World – Thursday, 14-May-2009

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