IT IS appalling and in bad taste that as former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's condition deteriorates further, and when the majority of Singaporeans and many around the world are wishing him well, there are those who have the temerity and ingratitude to falsify a death notice ("Rising concern over Mr Lee's worsening condition"; yesterday).
This is truly offensive and an insult to us Singaporeans. It is extremely reprehensible behaviour and I urge the authorities to spare no effort in meting out justice to the perpetrators.
Freedom of speech does not provide for the freedom to spread falsehoods under the cloak of anonymity that the Internet affords. Even if there is disagreement, there is no place in civil society for wishing someone ill or spreading falsehoods about their death.
This is not an isolated incident, and with recent reports of bad behaviour by bloggers and influencers ("Singtel sorry for negative campaign"; Wednesday and "Bloggers say sorry for negative comments"; Thursday), it calls into question whether we can truly be responsible users of the Internet.
As the Internet becomes an inseparable part of our lives, perhaps the real-world rules and standards that we live by should also be applied in the virtual world.
Tan Suan Jin
This is truly offensive and an insult to us Singaporeans. It is extremely reprehensible behaviour and I urge the authorities to spare no effort in meting out justice to the perpetrators.
Freedom of speech does not provide for the freedom to spread falsehoods under the cloak of anonymity that the Internet affords. Even if there is disagreement, there is no place in civil society for wishing someone ill or spreading falsehoods about their death.
This is not an isolated incident, and with recent reports of bad behaviour by bloggers and influencers ("Singtel sorry for negative campaign"; Wednesday and "Bloggers say sorry for negative comments"; Thursday), it calls into question whether we can truly be responsible users of the Internet.
As the Internet becomes an inseparable part of our lives, perhaps the real-world rules and standards that we live by should also be applied in the virtual world.
Tan Suan Jin
