The Online Citizen

{{Infobox website

| name =

| logo = File:The Online Citizen logo.svg

| type = Political commentary

| language = English

| founded = {{start date and age|2006|12}}

| country_of_origin = Singapore

| founder = {{ubl|

Andrew Loh|

Remy Choo Zheng Xi}}

| editor = Terry Xu

| headquarters = {{ubl|Singapore (2006-2021)|Taiwan (2022-present)}}

}}

The Online Citizen is a blogging platform based in Taiwan. Founded in December 2006 by Andrew Loh and Remy Choo Zheng Xi in Singapore,{{cite web | url=https://www.ricemedia.co/terry-xu-i-am-ready-to-go-to-jail-forever/ | title=Terry Xu: "I Am Ready to Go to Jail Forever." | date=December 2017 | accessdate=19 June 2019 | archive-date=14 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114060331/http://ricemedia.co/terry-xu-i-am-ready-to-go-to-jail-forever/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://www.mediadefence.org/case-study/what-happened-next-zheng-xi-choo-singapore | title=What Happened Next: Zheng Xi Choo, Singapore | accessdate=19 June 2019 | archive-date=17 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217201728/http://www.mediadefence.org/case-study/what-happened-next-zheng-xi-choo-singapore | url-status=live }} it is known for its political activism.Nazry Bahrawi. 2011. Political blog turns the tables on ruling party. South China Morning Post, February 1. It describes itself as a group of advocacy journalists who report on topics not generally covered by the mainstream media.

History

In 2011, the Singapore Registry of Political Donations gazetted the platform as a political organization, noting that the editors of the website organized online and offline campaigns to change legislation and government policies.[http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1111384/1/.html "The Online Citizen" gazetted as political association] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220003651/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1111384/1/.html |date=2011-02-20 }}, Channel News Asia, 17 February 2011, retrieved on 31 December 2011 Under the Political Donations Act, political entities cannot receive funds from foreign contributors[http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1121312/1/.html Temasek Review to shut down after July] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509101123/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1121312/1/.html |date=2011-05-09 }}, ChannelNewsAsia, 7 April 2011 and anonymous contributions above SGD 5000. In 2014, the website registered for a class license, which was regulated under the Broadcast Act. It meant that it had to "undertake not to receive foreign funding for its provision, management and, or, operation as part of the registration".{{Cite web|last=Tham|first=Yuen-C|date=2014-11-10|title=Company behind socio-political website TOC registers under class licence notification|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/company-behind-socio-political-website-toc-registers-under-class-licence-notification|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-16|website=The Straits Times|language=en|archive-date=2017-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820203728/http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/company-behind-socio-political-website-toc-registers-under-class-licence-notification}}

= 2018-2022: Defamation cases and closure =

In February 2018, TOC was de-gazetted as a "political association", as it was run by only one person – editor Terry Xu, who has been responsible for the development of content since 2011, when its core team of editors left.{{cite news |date=9 February 2018 |title=The Online Citizen website and two other groups no longer considered political associations |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/the-online-citizen-website-and-two-other-groups-no-longer-considered-political-associations |url-status=live |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322231554/http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/the-online-citizen-website-and-two-other-groups-no-longer-considered-political-associations |archive-date=22 March 2018}}{{cite news |date=3 March 2016 |title=The Online Citizen now a one-man show |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/the-online-citizen-now-a-one-man-show |url-status=live |access-date=22 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323040648/http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/the-online-citizen-now-a-one-man-show |archive-date=23 March 2018}}

== Criminal defamation over allegations against Singapore Cabinet ministers ==

On 4 September 2018, a letter alleging "corruption at the highest echelons" in the Singapore government was published on TOC. This led to computers belonging to Xu being seized by the police for investigation on 21 November 2018, forcing the site to go into a temporary hiatus.{{Cite web |author=Euan McKirdy |title=Singapore news portal on 'hiatus' after computers seized by police |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/21/asia/singapore-the-online-citizen-defamation-intl/index.html |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=CNN|date=21 November 2018 }} It was found that the author of the letter had sent it to TOC through a friend's email account who did not intend for the account to be used in such a manner.{{Cite web |last=Shaffiq Alkhatib |date=2021-11-12 |title=TOC defamation trial: Terry Xu and contributor found guilty of defaming Cabinet members {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/toc-defamation-trial-terry-xu-and-contributor-found-guilty-of-defaming |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}} On 21 November 2021, both Xu and the author was found guilty for defamation with the author being guilty for a charge under the Computer Misuse Act.{{Cite web |date=12 November 2021 |title=singapore: Shuttered Singapore news site's editor guilty of defamation - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/shuttered-singapore-news-sites-editor-guilty-of-defamation/articleshow/87667556.cms |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=The Times of India |language=en}} On 21 April 2021, Xu was sentenced three weeks jail and the author three months and three weeks. Xu would be appealing against the sentence.{{Cite web |date=21 April 2022 |title=Singapore jails shutterred news site's editor |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2022/04/21/singapore-jails-shutterred-news-sites-editor-.html |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=The Jakarta Post |language=en}}

== 38 Oxley Road ==

On 1 September 2019, Hsien Loong sent a letter, via the Prime Minister Office, to The Online Citizen's (TOC) editor, Terry Xu over an article that was published on TOC, repeating the claims that he had tried to preserve the house against his father's wishes.{{Cite news |last=Au-Yong |first=Rachel |date=3 July 2017 |title=Oxley Road: Lawrence Wong addresses questions about deed of gift |language=en |work=The Straits Times |publisher=Singapore Press Holdings |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/oxley-road-lawrence-wong-addresses-questions-about-deed-of-gift |access-date=20 October 2017}}{{cite news |date=2017-07-02 |title=Singapore PM says wants to avoid taking family feud to court |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-singapore-politics-idUSKBN19O065 |access-date=22 August 2017}} In the same letter, he wrote that he would be taking legal actions, unless the article is taken down from TOC website and its Facebook page and Xu makes a full apology.{{Cite web |title=PM Lee demands The Online Citizen take down allegedly defamatory article or face legal action |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/pm-lee-demands-editor-online-citizen-remove-defamatory-article-or-face-legal-action |access-date=2019-09-01 |website=TODAYonline}} However, Xu did not comply fully.{{Cite web |last=Voices |first=Global |date=2019-09-11 |title=Singapore prime minister sues independent news website for defamation |url=https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/09/11/singapore-prime-minister-sues-independent-news-website-defamation/ |access-date=2019-09-11 |website=Hong Kong Free Press HKFP |language=en-GB}} On 5 September 2019, Hsien Loong sued Xu for repeating statements made by Lee's siblings, an action which critics questioned the use of Prime Minister Office resources for personal matters. Xu was found guilty in 2021. Hsien Loong was awarded S$210,000 in total damages, which he donated to charity.{{Cite news |title=High Court awards PM Lee $210,000 in damages in defamation suits against TOC editor Terry Xu and article author |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/high-court-awards-pm-lee-210000-in-damages-in-defamation-suits-against-toc |access-date=2021-09-01 |website=The Straits Times|date=September 2021 }}

== 2021 suspension and closure ==

On 14 September 2021, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) suspended TOC's broadcasting class license over a dispute over reports on funding sources and would cancel TOC's licence if the information request was not met by 28 September. TOC was also required not to publish any new articles beyond 16 September 2021, 3pm.[https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/toc-online-citizen-suspended-licence-imda-2175986 The Online Citizen’s licence suspended, ordered to stop posting on website and social media] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914110750/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/toc-online-citizen-suspended-licence-imda-2175986 |date=2021-09-14 }}, CNA, 14 September 2021 Xu instead took the site offline on the morning of 16 September 2021.{{Cite web |last=Kurohi |first=Rei |date=2021-09-16 |title=The Online Citizen taken offline, ahead of deadline set by IMDA after failure to declare funding {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/the-online-citizen-goes-dark-ahead-of-deadline-set-by-imda |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-16 |title=The Online Citizen goes offline after row with Singapore government |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3148970/singapore-website-online-citizen-goes-offline-after-funding |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}} The license was cancelled on 15 October 2021.{{Cite web |last=Kurohi |first=Rei |date=2021-10-15 |title=IMDA cancels The Online Citizen's class licence |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/imda-cancels-the-online-citizens-class-licence |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}} On 16 December 2021, TOC's judicial review application, challenging the orders by IMDA, was dismissed by the High Court.{{Cite web |last=Lum |first=Selina |date=2021-12-16 |title=High Court throws out TOC's bid to challenge IMDA's orders against its Chinese site, social media channels {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/high-court-throws-out-tocs-bid-to-challenge-imdas-orders-against-its-chinese |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}

== Reactivation ==

On 16 September 2022, the website was relaunched, with Xu announcing that operations would be shifted to Taiwan under a new local company, Gutzy Asia.{{cite news |last1=Chan |first1=Rachel |title=The Online Citizen reactivates website and social media accounts; editor Terry Xu relocating to Taiwan |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/online-citizen-website-facebook-instagram-reactivated-editor-terry-xu-relocate-taiwan-2942936 |access-date=16 September 2022 |work=CNA |date=16 September 2022 |language=en}} Xu also added that this relaunched website would provide daily news coverage in Asia and beyond Singapore. On 6 April 2023, Xu was fined S$18,000 for contempt of court by reproducing an open letter by an Australian citizen who questioned the equality of Singapore's justice system.{{Cite web |last=cue |date=2023-04-06 |title='Failed to practise responsible journalism': TOC's Terry Xu fined $18k for contempt of court {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/failed-to-practise-responsible-journalism-toc-s-terry-xu-fined-18k-for-contempt-of-court |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}

On 31 Aug 2024, Gutzy Asia shifted its operations back to The Online Citizen after it was designated a Declared Online Location for multiple POFMA directives.{{Cite web |author=Staff writer |date=2024-08-31 |title=Notice to Our Readers: Moving Back to The Online Citizen |url=https://gutzy.asia/2024/08/31/notice-to-our-readers-moving-back-to-the-online-citizen/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Gutzy Asia |language=en-GB}}