A GROUP of bloggers has submitted 20 pages of proposals on Internet freedom to the Government, which says it will consider their ideas.

The group of 13 wants, among others, a guarantee of freedom to use the Internet to discuss political issues and promote political views, The Straits Times reported.

Also, any regulation of online content should not be at the administrative discretion of officials, who have legal powers in this area, but through a court of law or preferably moderation by a consultative body of citizens, they said.

In its reply, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (Mica) said their views plus feedback from others will be taken into account in its ongoing review of new media.

"To keep up with the fast-evolving new media landscape, we have been reviewing our light-touch approach and are considering how we could take a lighter touch approach," said Ms K. Bhavani, press secretary to Mica minister Lee Boon Yang.

Her reply on Monday was e-mailed to a leader of the group, Mr Alex Au of the Yawning Bread site, who made it available to The Straits Times.

The bloggers had e-mailed their suggestions to Dr Lee last month.

The move was prompted by their concern that a study by the government-appointed Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society would be too focused on the views of experts.

The council is looking at refining the existing regulatory framework for new media. It began its work in April last year.

Led by law undergraduate Choo Zheng Xi of The Online Citizen and Mr Au, the group of bloggers focused its efforts on the regulatory process and online political content, hate speech, plus sex and violence.

Said Mr Choo: "We looked through the legislation, what specific issues and problems there were, and drafted our report through e-mail and several face-to-face meetings."

Ms Bhavani, in her reply, also set out Mica's thinking in taking its current "balanced light-touch approach".

"Our intent... was to foster the growth of the Internet and to enable us to exploit its vast potential while safeguarding our society from its undesirable aspects."

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