Policy and Regulation

Through the internet, societies no longer have rigid boundaries, information can be accessed more easily and knowledge shared more freely. Academics, policy makers and internet users are debating this issue as it impacts societies politically, socially and economically. Studies that have been initiated and are being initiated in this area include those that come under the topics of content regulation and internet governance. Should content online be regulated? How can it be regulated and who should regulate it are some of the questions that associates at the SIRC are seeking to answer.

Investigators: Assoc. Prof. Ang Peng Hwa; Assistant Prof. Mark Cenite.

Selected publications

Ang, P.H. (2005). Ordering Chaos: Regulating the Internet.
Thomson Learning Asia.

This book adopts an expansive view of regulation, including the deployment of technology, the use of market forces, the formulation of industry self-regulation as well as legislation. It shows the possibilities and limits of the regulatory approaches and why policy makers should take a light-handed approach to regulation- attempting alternative regulatory means and letting technology 'settle' before passing legislation

Cenite, M. (2004) Federalizing or Eliminating Online Obscenity Law as Alternatives to Contemporary Community Standards, Communication Law and Policy 25–71 (2004).

Kluver, R. (2005) Architecture for Control: A Chinese strategy of E-Governance.Journal of Public Policy.