The National Internet Advisory Committee (NIAC), an independent advisory body to the Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA), has got on board the Singapore IT Federation to administer a voluntary Industry Content Code of Practice. The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore and SBA have also agreed to give their support to this initiative.

The Code, which will supplement the Internet Code of Practice of the SBA, will incorporate guidelines based on that of Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. In the long term, the guidelines are expected to benefit business by reinforcing trust and confidence among users.

In order to encourage compliance, incentive schemes are being drawn up.

An NIAC spokesperson stated that the main concern was to protect children below the age of 12 from undesirable aspects of the Internet such as child pornography and hate mail.

As an additional measure, the NIAC is also encouraging content providers in particular to consider rating their web sites using international rating systems established by the Internet Content Rating Association, a non-profit US-based group.

NIAC's objectives were succinctly stated : "The Internet is here to stay; our role is to ensure that it remains a safe and reliable medium for consumers to rely on".

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