The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) is a statutory board under the

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

Ministry of Digital Development and Information The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI; ; zh, 数码发展及新闻部; ) is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for overseeing the development of the infocomm technology, media and design sectors, as well ...

(MDDI).

History

The Telecommunication Authority of Singapore (TAS) was the statutory board that acted as the national regulator and promoter of the telecommunication and postal industries in Singapore. Prior to 1992, the TAS also managed postal and telecommunications services until

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and

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were split off from the board as corporatised entities. In 1999, the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) was formed in 1999 from the merger of the TAS and National Computer Board (NCB). Following the passing of the Info-communications Media Development Authority Bill in Parliament on 16 August 2016, the IDA and the

Media Development Authority The Media Development Authority (abbreviation: MDA) was a statutory board of the Singapore Government, under the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI). History MDA was founded on 1 January 2003 by the merger of Singapore Broadcasti ...

(MDA) were restructured and merged into the IMDA with effect from 30 September that year.

Key functions

IMDA provides numerous programmes, policies and grants that cater to industries and communities. IMDA also protects consumers' privacy through the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC). Since 2019, IMDA administrates the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 through the dedicated POFMA Office.

Classifications

There are classification systems for the following types of media: films, TV programs, video games, and arts entertainment (e.g., theatrical productions).

Films and TV

Films and TV programs both use the same rating system. Free-to-air TV content must also adhere to additional restrictions, as outlined in Section 5 of the Content Code.

Video games

Following a controversial ban of video game

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in November 2007, the government unbanned it a day later for containing a same-sex love scene. IMDA announced that a new classification system for games will be put in place early 2008. Since April 2008, video games that are sold in Singapore are required to undergo classification. As of 2022, there are 2 ratings for video games: Mature 18 and Advisory 16. Games without contentious content fall within the “General” category, and they do not require Singapore-specific rating labels. Games only need to be classified if they are physically sold in Singapore. However, some digital storefronts like

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may display the classification rating to local users if one is available.

References