Proposed amendment to Films Act will allow the police to search your home without a warrant

The Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) is due to make some drastic changes to the Films Act soon. The Authority proposed several amendments to the Act earlier this month, one of which would give the police powers to search homes without a warrant.

This particular amendment would legally allow the police to enter and inspect any home, without a warrant, and examine any film or advertisement found in the premises. The search may include an inspection of personal items like phones, computers, laptops, tablets or memory storage drives. Any films that are found to be unlawful may be disposed or seized by enforcement officers:

The authorities already have limited powers to conduct such searches but they are presently restricted to only searching for obscene or political party films. If the proposed amendment is passed, the authorities will be able to conduct checks without warrants for all unlawful media, including pirated films.

Members of the public may write in to the IMDA to give feedback about the proposed amendments until 22 December. The deadline for providing feedback was initially set at 15 Dec but was likely extended due to public demand.

Those who are interested to express their opinions on this matter to the Authority may do so here.