Is the solution worse than the problem?
The bill was first drafted last month and, as had been expected, it passed 72-9 in Singapore's parliament, dominated by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), late on Wednesday.
As we reported last month, the bill caused concern through its potential to stifle free speech, as a key feature enables the government, and in fact any minister, to force "corrections" to be added to online content that is deemed to be "false."
Beyond media, the flex also extends to social media. According to the law, those found to be "malicious actors" face a fine of up to SG$50,000 ($37,000) or five years in prison for their content. If posted using "an inauthentic online account or a bot," the fine jumps to a maximum of SG$100,000 ($74,000) or a potential 10-year jail term. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter face fines of up to SG$1 million ($740,000) for their role in such situations.
Designed to cover "a false statement of fact... has been or is being communicated in Singapore" or cases where politicians believe that issuing a correction is "in the public interest," the bill also claims reach overseas — or, rather, intended reach overseas. Politicians can trigger it in situations judged to be "in the interest of friendly relations of Singapore with other countries."
It remains to be seen how much success the Singapore government will have with its efforts. Domestic media may well be under control — the World Press Freedom Index ranks Singapore 151 out of 183 countries and self-censorship is common — but influencing newsrooms based overseas and social networks will likely prove difficult.
Facebook, for example, last November resisted calls to remove content flagged as defamatory by the government. That clearly frustrated officials.
"This shows why we need legislation to protect us from deliberate online falsehoods," the Ministry of Law wrote in an announcement at the time.
How a takedown would work — and how the government might access encrypted chats on apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, which are also part of its focus — also remains unclear at this point.
The law has been criticized by free speech groups.
"Singapore's new 'fake news' law is a disaster for online expression by ordinary Singaporeans, and a hammer blow against the independence of many online news portals they rely on to get real news about their country beyond the ruling People's Action Party political filter," Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson wrote on Twitter.
"Singapore's leaders have crafted a law that will have a chilling effect on internet freedom throughout Southeast Asia, and likely start a new set of information wars as they try to impose their narrow version of "truth" on the wider world," he added.
Human Rights Watch — which came out with strong criticism of the bill last month — was criticized by the Singapore government last month, which hit back at "its long-standing practice of issuing biased and one-sided statements about Singapore."
Meanwhile, on the more assistive end of the dissenting voices, the Asia Internet Coalition — a group that represents Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Line and others — penned an editorial in Singapore's Straits Times newspaper suggesting changes to the bill.
The opinion piece — which, irony alert, is restricted by a paywall — recommended specific processes, an imperial body to vet decisions, exemptions for opinion articles, satire and more, as well as a request for "clear and well-defined language and scope."
Robertson is concerned that other counties in Southeast Asia will take the ball Singapore has punted and run with it, thereby creating other restrictive online content policies. That's already happened to some extent. In Vietnam, a draconian cybersecurity law went into operation on January 1 while Thailand passed a controversial law in February granting a wide scope of powers to authorities.
https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/09/singapore-fake-news-law/
Lousi Farrakahn was banned from Facebook and Twitter..
The only reason I mention this here is that this thread is also about free speech.
Quote from: "Fashionista"
The bill was first drafted last month and, as had been expected, it passed 72-9 in Singapore's parliament, dominated by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), late on Wednesday.
As we reported last month, the bill caused concern through its potential to stifle free speech, as a key feature enables the government, and in fact any minister, to force "corrections" to be added to online content that is deemed to be "false."
Beyond media, the flex also extends to social media. According to the law, those found to be "malicious actors" face a fine of up to SG$50,000 ($37,000) or five years in prison for their content. If posted using "an inauthentic online account or a bot," the fine jumps to a maximum of SG$100,000 ($74,000) or a potential 10-year jail term. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter face fines of up to SG$1 million ($740,000) for their role in such situations.
Designed to cover "a false statement of fact... has been or is being communicated in Singapore" or cases where politicians believe that issuing a correction is "in the public interest," the bill also claims reach overseas — or, rather, intended reach overseas. Politicians can trigger it in situations judged to be "in the interest of friendly relations of Singapore with other countries."
It remains to be seen how much success the Singapore government will have with its efforts. Domestic media may well be under control — the World Press Freedom Index ranks Singapore 151 out of 183 countries and self-censorship is common — but influencing newsrooms based overseas and social networks will likely prove difficult.
Facebook, for example, last November resisted calls to remove content flagged as defamatory by the government. That clearly frustrated officials.
"This shows why we need legislation to protect us from deliberate online falsehoods," the Ministry of Law wrote in an announcement at the time.
How a takedown would work — and how the government might access encrypted chats on apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, which are also part of its focus — also remains unclear at this point.
The law has been criticized by free speech groups.
"Singapore's new 'fake news' law is a disaster for online expression by ordinary Singaporeans, and a hammer blow against the independence of many online news portals they rely on to get real news about their country beyond the ruling People's Action Party political filter," Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson wrote on Twitter.
"Singapore's leaders have crafted a law that will have a chilling effect on internet freedom throughout Southeast Asia, and likely start a new set of information wars as they try to impose their narrow version of "truth" on the wider world," he added.
Human Rights Watch — which came out with strong criticism of the bill last month — was criticized by the Singapore government last month, which hit back at "its long-standing practice of issuing biased and one-sided statements about Singapore."
Meanwhile, on the more assistive end of the dissenting voices, the Asia Internet Coalition — a group that represents Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Line and others — penned an editorial in Singapore's Straits Times newspaper suggesting changes to the bill.
The opinion piece — which, irony alert, is restricted by a paywall — recommended specific processes, an imperial body to vet decisions, exemptions for opinion articles, satire and more, as well as a request for "clear and well-defined language and scope."
Robertson is concerned that other counties in Southeast Asia will take the ball Singapore has punted and run with it, thereby creating other restrictive online content policies. That's already happened to some extent. In Vietnam, a draconian cybersecurity law went into operation on January 1 while Thailand passed a controversial law in February granting a wide scope of powers to authorities.
https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/09/singapore-fake-news-law/
All this will do is go after the little guy who re-tweets or shares a post.
IMO social media should work like the US first amendment--basically people should be able to say anything they want except threats and provable libel.
Anything less is censorship.
Quote from: "Wazzzup"
Anything less is censorship.
Lying is practically a crime in Singapore though.
Quote from: "seoulbro"
Quote from: "Fashionista"
The bill was first drafted last month and, as had been expected, it passed 72-9 in Singapore's parliament, dominated by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), late on Wednesday.
As we reported last month, the bill caused concern through its potential to stifle free speech, as a key feature enables the government, and in fact any minister, to force "corrections" to be added to online content that is deemed to be "false."
Beyond media, the flex also extends to social media. According to the law, those found to be "malicious actors" face a fine of up to SG$50,000 ($37,000) or five years in prison for their content. If posted using "an inauthentic online account or a bot," the fine jumps to a maximum of SG$100,000 ($74,000) or a potential 10-year jail term. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter face fines of up to SG$1 million ($740,000) for their role in such situations.
Designed to cover "a false statement of fact... has been or is being communicated in Singapore" or cases where politicians believe that issuing a correction is "in the public interest," the bill also claims reach overseas — or, rather, intended reach overseas. Politicians can trigger it in situations judged to be "in the interest of friendly relations of Singapore with other countries."
It remains to be seen how much success the Singapore government will have with its efforts. Domestic media may well be under control — the World Press Freedom Index ranks Singapore 151 out of 183 countries and self-censorship is common — but influencing newsrooms based overseas and social networks will likely prove difficult.
Facebook, for example, last November resisted calls to remove content flagged as defamatory by the government. That clearly frustrated officials.
"This shows why we need legislation to protect us from deliberate online falsehoods," the Ministry of Law wrote in an announcement at the time.
How a takedown would work — and how the government might access encrypted chats on apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, which are also part of its focus — also remains unclear at this point.
The law has been criticized by free speech groups.
"Singapore's new 'fake news' law is a disaster for online expression by ordinary Singaporeans, and a hammer blow against the independence of many online news portals they rely on to get real news about their country beyond the ruling People's Action Party political filter," Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson wrote on Twitter.
"Singapore's leaders have crafted a law that will have a chilling effect on internet freedom throughout Southeast Asia, and likely start a new set of information wars as they try to impose their narrow version of "truth" on the wider world," he added.
Human Rights Watch — which came out with strong criticism of the bill last month — was criticized by the Singapore government last month, which hit back at "its long-standing practice of issuing biased and one-sided statements about Singapore."
Meanwhile, on the more assistive end of the dissenting voices, the Asia Internet Coalition — a group that represents Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Line and others — penned an editorial in Singapore's Straits Times newspaper suggesting changes to the bill.
The opinion piece — which, irony alert, is restricted by a paywall — recommended specific processes, an imperial body to vet decisions, exemptions for opinion articles, satire and more, as well as a request for "clear and well-defined language and scope."
Robertson is concerned that other counties in Southeast Asia will take the ball Singapore has punted and run with it, thereby creating other restrictive online content policies. That's already happened to some extent. In Vietnam, a draconian cybersecurity law went into operation on January 1 while Thailand passed a controversial law in February granting a wide scope of powers to authorities.
https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/09/singapore-fake-news-law/
All this will do is go after the little guy who re-tweets or shares a post.
I see why they call Singapore a fine city.
Quote from: "seoulbro"
Quote from: "Fashionista"
The bill was first drafted last month and, as had been expected, it passed 72-9 in Singapore's parliament, dominated by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), late on Wednesday.
As we reported last month, the bill caused concern through its potential to stifle free speech, as a key feature enables the government, and in fact any minister, to force "corrections" to be added to online content that is deemed to be "false."
Beyond media, the flex also extends to social media. According to the law, those found to be "malicious actors" face a fine of up to SG$50,000 ($37,000) or five years in prison for their content. If posted using "an inauthentic online account or a bot," the fine jumps to a maximum of SG$100,000 ($74,000) or a potential 10-year jail term. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter face fines of up to SG$1 million ($740,000) for their role in such situations.
Designed to cover "a false statement of fact... has been or is being communicated in Singapore" or cases where politicians believe that issuing a correction is "in the public interest," the bill also claims reach overseas — or, rather, intended reach overseas. Politicians can trigger it in situations judged to be "in the interest of friendly relations of Singapore with other countries."
It remains to be seen how much success the Singapore government will have with its efforts. Domestic media may well be under control — the World Press Freedom Index ranks Singapore 151 out of 183 countries and self-censorship is common — but influencing newsrooms based overseas and social networks will likely prove difficult.
Facebook, for example, last November resisted calls to remove content flagged as defamatory by the government. That clearly frustrated officials.
"This shows why we need legislation to protect us from deliberate online falsehoods," the Ministry of Law wrote in an announcement at the time.
How a takedown would work — and how the government might access encrypted chats on apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, which are also part of its focus — also remains unclear at this point.
The law has been criticized by free speech groups.
"Singapore's new 'fake news' law is a disaster for online expression by ordinary Singaporeans, and a hammer blow against the independence of many online news portals they rely on to get real news about their country beyond the ruling People's Action Party political filter," Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson wrote on Twitter.
"Singapore's leaders have crafted a law that will have a chilling effect on internet freedom throughout Southeast Asia, and likely start a new set of information wars as they try to impose their narrow version of "truth" on the wider world," he added.
Human Rights Watch — which came out with strong criticism of the bill last month — was criticized by the Singapore government last month, which hit back at "its long-standing practice of issuing biased and one-sided statements about Singapore."
Meanwhile, on the more assistive end of the dissenting voices, the Asia Internet Coalition — a group that represents Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Line and others — penned an editorial in Singapore's Straits Times newspaper suggesting changes to the bill.
The opinion piece — which, irony alert, is restricted by a paywall — recommended specific processes, an imperial body to vet decisions, exemptions for opinion articles, satire and more, as well as a request for "clear and well-defined language and scope."
Robertson is concerned that other counties in Southeast Asia will take the ball Singapore has punted and run with it, thereby creating other restrictive online content policies. That's already happened to some extent. In Vietnam, a draconian cybersecurity law went into operation on January 1 while Thailand passed a controversial law in February granting a wide scope of powers to authorities.
https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/09/singapore-fake-news-law/
All this will do is go after the little guy who re-tweets or shares a post.
I hope Singapore waters this bill down.
It could have a spill over into Taiwan which has the freest press in East Asia and very little internet censorship.
As I have often mentioned, Singapore's evolution as a global financial powerhouse and city of dreams came at a cost.
It is a benign dictatorship.
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Quote from: "Wazzzup"
Anything less is censorship.
Lying is practically a crime in Singapore though.
Lying is of course bad and I hate fake news, but government trying to stop it will only end up hurting free speech, and as SB said the little people who accidentally pass things along not knowing they are false. Government cannot be trusted with that power.
Quote from: "Wazzzup"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Quote from: "Wazzzup"
Anything less is censorship.
Lying is practically a crime in Singapore though.
Lying is of course bad and I hate fake news, but government trying to stop it will only end up hurting free speech, and as SB said the little people who accidentally pass things along not knowing they are false. Government cannot be trusted with that power.
It is a frightening totalitarian legislative move.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
It is a benign dictatorship.
I did a search and it says they are a democracy BUT they are one that doesn't have respect for some civil rights.
The thing is though, We in the west all live in democracies. But leftists have no trouble making up anti speech rules on facebook and other platforms that affect us. (Then they deliberately apply double standards in how these rules are enforced so they can silence dissent) Democracy is not stopping the totalitarian anti speech left from getting its way.
Quote from: "Gaon"
It is a frightening totalitarian legislative move.
It is
but the same kind of de facto censorship is going on in all western countries-- some of it is government-- like hate speech laws. But also there is facebook and other platforms. This censorship may not be technically government enforced but it is certainly another destruction of free speech.
Quote from: "Wazzzup"
Quote from: "Bricktop"
It is a benign dictatorship.
I did a search and it says they are a democracy BUT they are one that doesn't have respect for some civil rights.
The thing is though, We in the west all live in democracies. But leftists have no trouble making up anti speech rules on facebook and other platforms that affect us. (Then they deliberately apply double standards in how these rules are enforced so they can silence dissent) Democracy is not stopping the totalitarian anti speech left from getting its way.
Quote from: "Gaon"
It is a frightening totalitarian legislative move.
It is
but the same kind of de facto censorship is going on in all western countries-- some of it is government-- like hate speech laws. But also there is facebook and other platforms. This censorship may not be technically government enforced but it is certainly another destruction of free speech.
They are using a sledgehammer to swat a fly.
I don't care how rich Singapore is, I would emigrate if I lived there.
Quote from: "Wazzzup"
North Korea's full title is the DEMOCRATIC Peoples Republic of Korea.
East Germany called itself the DEMOCRATIC Republic of Germany.
The "Soviet" in the Soviet Union inferred that it was a democracy.
The first thing dictatorships try and do is convince the world it is a "democracy".
Singapore may call itself a democracy, but that does not explain why the same party has been in power since the 1960's.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Quote from: "Wazzzup"
North Korea's full title is the DEMOCRATIC Peoples Republic of Korea.
East Germany called itself the DEMOCRATIC Republic of Germany.
The "Soviet" in the Soviet Union inferred that it was a democracy.
The first thing dictatorships try and do is convince the world it is a "democracy".
Singapore may call itself a democracy, but that does not explain why the same party has been in power since the 1960's.
Singapore has low taxes, and allows whoring. Fuck the rest.
A car in Singapore will cost you $150,000 because of the enormous tariffs, and you must dispose of it once it reaches 5 years old. EVERY car park in public and private property will cost you. Prices of fuel, alcohol and restaurants are MASSIVE. Major roads are tollways.
Prostitution is illegal. Apparently.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Prostitution is illegal. Apparently.
Japan has environmental laws that look like they were written by the Japanese automakers..
It's cheaper to buy a new car than maintain an old one, and I mean six or more years old.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Prostitution is illegal. Apparently.
Here is what wiki says about prostitution in Singapore.
Prostitution in Singapore in itself is not illegal, but various prostitution-related activities are criminalized. This includes public solicitation, living on the earnings of a prostitute and maintaining a brothel. In practice, police unofficially tolerate and monitor a limited number of brothels. Prostitutes in such establishments are required to undergo periodic health checks and must carry a health card.
Quote from: "seoulbro"
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Prostitution is illegal. Apparently.
Here is what wiki says about prostitution in Singapore.
Prostitution in Singapore in itself is not illegal, but various prostitution-related activities are criminalized. This includes public solicitation, living on the earnings of a prostitute and maintaining a brothel. In practice, police unofficially tolerate and monitor a limited number of brothels. Prostitutes in such establishments are required to undergo periodic health checks and must carry a health card.
Like everything in Singapore, selling sex is regulated.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Prostitution is illegal. Apparently.
Street food is cheap enough.
True.
And quite good.
I eat their street food often.
Quote from: "Bricktop"
And quite good.
I eat their street food often.
The street grub is better than most of the restaurant food up in Saskatoon.
Does Singapore still have strict littering laws?
Yes.
Very.
Quote from: "caskur"
There is a reason why they call Singapore a fine city. Yes, there are fines for littering.
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "caskur"
There is a reason why they call Singapore a fine city. Yes, there are fines for littering.
My cousin went there last year...
But years ago, possibly the 70s, my grandmother went there and she was a smoker and had to carry around a tiny tin ashtray that closed up. She was warned by authorities dropping butts meant a flogging....lol
I thought that was wonderful. I wished we had that law.
Quote from: "caskur"
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "caskur"
There is a reason why they call Singapore a fine city. Yes, there are fines for littering.
My cousin went there last year...
But years ago, possibly the 70s, my grandmother went there and she was a smoker and had to carry around a tiny tin ashtray that closed up. She was warned by authorities dropping butts meant a flogging....lol
I thought that was wonderful. I wished we had that law.
Don't they have a junk food tax?
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "caskur"
There is a reason why they call Singapore a fine city. Yes, there are fines for littering.
They flog Americans there. You should avoid it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "caskur"
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "caskur"
There is a reason why they call Singapore a fine city. Yes, there are fines for littering.
My cousin went there last year...
But years ago, possibly the 70s, my grandmother went there and she was a smoker and had to carry around a tiny tin ashtray that closed up. She was warned by authorities dropping butts meant a flogging....lol
I thought that was wonderful. I wished we had that law.
Don't they have a junk food tax?
I don't know... I know they have a fabulous iron tree garden....
That is all I know about them.
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "caskur"
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "caskur"
There is a reason why they call Singapore a fine city. Yes, there are fines for littering.
My cousin went there last year...
But years ago, possibly the 70s, my grandmother went there and she was a smoker and had to carry around a tiny tin ashtray that closed up. She was warned by authorities dropping butts meant a flogging....lol
I thought that was wonderful. I wished we had that law.
Don't they have a junk food tax?
There are very few "junk food" outlets.
Food quality and health standards are extremely well policed. And Chinese people are very particular about their food. It is always good quality, fresh and tasty.
Burger chains have no traction there. I think pizza does slightly better. But the Chinese "street" and take away vendors do a roaring trade at lunch time.
I posted pics of their street food some time ago.
Quote from: "caskur"
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "caskur"
There is a reason why they call Singapore a fine city. Yes, there are fines for littering.
They flog Americans there. You should avoid it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay
The little bastard had it coming to him.
I have an aunt that lives in Singapore. They have floated the idea of taxing or even banning sugary drinks, but nothing so far I think.
Thieves get spanked... Or caned..
No biggie..
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Quote from: "caskur"
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "caskur"
There is a reason why they call Singapore a fine city. Yes, there are fines for littering.
They flog Americans there. You should avoid it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay
The little bastard had it coming to him.
I have an aunt that lives in Singapore. They have floated the idea of taxing or even banning sugary drinks, but nothing so far I think.
Asian food, yummy yummy as it is, still has unhealthy ingredients like... Palm sugar (yummy) coconut milk (yummy) should be used sparingly...
My Fillipina aunty got fat (by Asian standards) one time and the doctor told her to cut out the coconut milk...
She made two foods (to die for) using coconut milk.
One was a dessert the Fillipinos make when visiting the graves of the dead, made from Sticky rice, palm sugar and coconut milk (yum yum)
And the other food she made was chicken, pork, eggplant, pumpkin, silverbeet (swisschard) cooked in coconut milk and served with rice.... I miss her... I should make some myself.
Coconut milk is largely used in south east asian dishes, not Chinese.
Quote from: "caskur"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Quote from: "caskur"
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "caskur"
There is a reason why they call Singapore a fine city. Yes, there are fines for littering.
They flog Americans there. You should avoid it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay
The little bastard had it coming to him.
I have an aunt that lives in Singapore. They have floated the idea of taxing or even banning sugary drinks, but nothing so far I think.
Asian food, yummy yummy as it is, still has unhealthy ingredients like... Palm sugar (yummy) coconut milk (yummy) should be used sparingly...
My Fillipina aunty got fat (by Asian standards) one time and the doctor told her to cut out the coconut milk...
She made two foods (to die for) using coconut milk.
One was a dessert the Fillipinos make when visiting the graves of the dead, made from Sticky rice, palm sugar and coconut milk (yum yum)
And the other food she made was chicken, pork, eggplant, pumpkin, silverbeet (swisschard) cooked in coconut milk and served with rice.... I miss her... I should make some myself.
Coconut milk can actually stimulate weight loss.
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "Bricktop"
Prostitution is illegal. Apparently.
Street food is cheap enough.
Alcohol in bars and restaurants is really expensive. Even a cheap bottle of wine in hawker centres is a lot more than in Winnipeg.
We went to Raffles for dinner.
They were serving bottles of wine from Australia that we wouldn't cook with for $200!!!
Quote from: "Bricktop"
They were serving bottles of wine from Australia that we wouldn't cook with for $200!!!
I've only seen the outside of that place.
Next time you're there, visit the Long Bar. It's like going back in time.
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "caskur"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Quote from: "caskur"
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "caskur"
There is a reason why they call Singapore a fine city. Yes, there are fines for littering.
They flog Americans there. You should avoid it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Fay
The little bastard had it coming to him.
I have an aunt that lives in Singapore. They have floated the idea of taxing or even banning sugary drinks, but nothing so far I think.
Asian food, yummy yummy as it is, still has unhealthy ingredients like... Palm sugar (yummy) coconut milk (yummy) should be used sparingly...
My Fillipina aunty got fat (by Asian standards) one time and the doctor told her to cut out the coconut milk...
She made two foods (to die for) using coconut milk.
One was a dessert the Fillipinos make when visiting the graves of the dead, made from Sticky rice, palm sugar and coconut milk (yum yum)
And the other food she made was chicken, pork, eggplant, pumpkin, silverbeet (swisschard) cooked in coconut milk and served with rice.... I miss her... I should make some myself.
Coconut milk can actually stimulate weight loss.
That's what they say to sell it to you. It's untrue.
It's not going to hurt you if you have it now and again but if you have too much, the weight will go on.
I would imagine golfers have to indulge their favourite game in Malaysia?
Quote from: "Bricktop"
It's used in the Phillippines and Thailand and Indonesia... who cares what the Chinese do?
Take a look at this caskur
Research suggests that coconut milk has three main health benefits. Below, we describe the effects on weight loss, heart health, and the immune system.
1. Weight loss
Coconut milk contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which researchers have linked with weight loss. MCTs stimulate energy through a process called thermogenesis, or heat production.
Some studies indicate that MCTs work to reduce body weight and waist size. They may also balance out unstable gut microbiota. A lack of this stability may play a role in developing obesity.
A 2015 study in overweight men found that consuming MCTs at breakfast led to reduced food intake later in the day.
Findings of a 2018 study suggest that MCTs increase insulin sensitivity, and many researchers believe that this sensitivity promotes weight loss. Insulin is an essential hormone that breaks down glucose and controls blood sugar levels.
2. Heart health
Research has linked diets rich in saturated fat with high cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease.
Some people may not consider coconut milk to be heart-healthy, because of its high fat content.
However, different sources of saturated fats may affect the body in different ways. Also, genetics play a role in how a person metabolizes saturated fats and the extent to which these fats impact health.
Scant research has investigated the effects of coconut milk on cholesterol levels. However, a substantial body of research has explored the effects of coconut oil.
One study found that coconut oil did not significantly increase levels of "bad cholesterol," or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, but that it did increase levels of "good cholesterol," or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL).
It is important to note that the study period was short, only 4 weeks, and that the research was lacking in controls.
HDL cholesterol protects the heart and removes LDL cholesterol from the blood. It carries LDL cholesterol to the liver, which breaks it down, and the body eventually eliminates it.
While coconut oil may not raise levels of LDL cholesterol, coconut-based products are high in fat and calories. People should only consume them in moderation.
Keep in mind that coconut oil has substantially more fat per serving than coconut milk, which will have less dramatic effects on cholesterol levels.
Boots immune system
Coconuts contain a lipid called lauric acid, and many researchers believe that lauric acid can support the immune system.
Some findings indicate that lauric acid has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
In a study of the antimicrobial effects of lauric acid from coconuts, the researchers isolated various bacterial strains and exposed them to lauric acid in petri dishes.
They found that lauric acid effectively inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Other researchers found that lauric acid triggers apoptosis, cell death, in breast and endometrial cancer cells. The findings suggest that this acid inhibits cancer cell growth by stimulating certain receptor proteins that regulate the growth of cells
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323743.php
Quote from: "caskur"
Quote from: "Bricktop"
It's used in the Phillippines and Thailand and Indonesia... who cares what the Chinese do?
I suspect the Chinese do.