(SG) Penal Code review includes discussion of voyeruism, flahing and revenge porn

On September 9th, 2018, Straitstimes writer Tan Tam Mei published an article on the Penal Code review concerning laws regarding revenge porn, flashing and voyeurism.

With the Review of the Penal Code, topics being tangent by certain but not targeted by specific laws come into public discussion again. Some of these topics concern public (partial) nudity, such as flashing, as well as the circulation of pictures of people in vulnerable positions filmed without the consent of the person, such as revenge porn. According to the article, new technologies such as mobile phones have significantly increased the occurrence of these actions and necessitate laws specifically targeting such offenses. As they, so far, could only be persecuted based on more general laws. The new review of the Penal Code, now, considers whether this should be made more specific.

For me the sentence” Mr Gregory Vijayendran, president of the Law Society of Singapore, saif that given the changing times, technology has become the modus operandi and weapon in modern crime. ‘Any smartphone is potentially a virtual crime scene,’ he said.” Is rather surprising. It seem as if the trend of using smart technology, especially smartphones recording functions, is increasingly occurring, is a new observation for the legal authorities of Singapore. I would have not expected this, as my impression so far has been that the casual use of smartphone is very present in Singapore and especially recording without prior consent is more common than in Europe.

Simultaneously, I wonder whether a law targeting flashing in particular is necessary as there is a law prohibiting any nudity in public. If it can be unlawful to be naked in one’s home because open curtains allow neighbours to see the person, how does this differ in flashing in terms of prosecution?

Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/penal-code-review-committee-new-l…