S'pore Wi-Fi hotspots protected from lawsuits
Service providers that offer public Internet access, including retail outlets such as Starbucks or McDonald's, will not be legally liable if malicious hackers ride on their Wi-Fi hotspot to download illegal content or conduct other cybercrimes, according to a lawyer specializing in intellectual property (IP). This week, a U.K. pub was fined after someone unlawfully downloaded copyrighted material over their open Wi-Fi network.
In Singapore, however, as long as the providers of such Internet services are not complicit or aware of the illegal act, they will not face prosecution in local courts, said Mark Lim, head of intellectual property of media and entertainment at local law firm, Tan Peng Chin.
"Open Wi-Fi providers will only be liable if they actively encourage or know that their customers are using their Internet source to conduct illegal activities online [and] yet continue allowing them access to its hotspot," said Lim in a phone interview with ZDNet Asia.
