HardwareZone’s Singpass age-verification move stirs privacy backlash amid broader online safety push     HardwareZone has introduced Singpass age-verification to access mature content, citing compliance with Singapore's online safety code. However, users are pushing back, voicing concerns over privacy, surveillance, and the erosion of the platform’s long-standing anonymity. The Online Citizen28 Jan 2026       AI-Generated Summary HardwareZone introduced Singpass-based age verification for 18+ content. IMDA's Code of Practice for Online Safety prompted the change. Users cite privacy, trust, and declining platform activity as key concerns.   HardwareZone has announced a new policy requiring users to verify their age using Singpass to access forum posts classified as suitable only for individuals aged 18 and above. The measure, which took effect following an announcement titled “Updates to Forum Content Viewability – Your FAQs answered”, is part of the platform’s compliance with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)’s Code of Practice for Online Safety, which became effective on 18 July 2023. Under the Code, social media services with significant reach or impact in Singapore — including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and HardwareZone — are required to implement system-wide safeguards against six categories of harmful content: sexual content, violent content, suicide and self-harm, cyberbullying, content endangering public health, and content facilitating vice and organised crime. To comply, HardwareZone now uses an in-house artificial intelligence model to classify content in real time. Posts deemed unsuitable for younger audiences are only viewable after users verify that they are aged 18 or older via Singpass. While verification remains optional, users who do not complete the process will be treated as minors and will not be able to access flagged content, even if such posts do not breach the forum’s rules. Pushback despite assurances of privacy The forum administrators have explained that Singpass verification is a one-time process linked to a user's forum account. As confirmed by site moderators, the verification status is stored with the profile itself — not in browser cookies — and remains valid until the password is renewed. Clearing one’s browser cache or cookies does not trigger re-verification. HardwareZone has stressed that it does not collect or store personal data beyond the binary outcome of the age check conducted through sgID, a component of Singpass. The forum receives only a confirmation of whether the user is aged 18 or older. Nonetheless, many users remain sceptical. Some raised comparisons to the TraceTogether incident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where official assurances about data usage were later contradicted by revelations that the data could be accessed by police for criminal investigations. For others, the issue centres on anonymity. Users argued that Singpass is inherently tied to an individual's NRIC, and while the system does not expose identity details to the forum, linking age verification to the user profile undermines the perception of anonymity. They noted that participating after verification feels similar to associating posts with one’s official identity — a marked shift from HardwareZone's pseudonymous culture. Concerns over surveillance and loss of trust Several users described the move as a step towards greater surveillance. One commenter criticised the Code as “just another pretext for more surveillance”, while another stated the privacy intrusion was “ridiculous”. There is also growing concern that the requirement could discourage open and honest discussion on the forum — historically known for its candid exchanges under pseudonymous handles. Some users suggested that the platform was slowly evolving into a space where only establishment-aligned views would be tolerated, especially if access to certain content becomes conditional on verified identities. Another user said that while verification itself was not a major issue, the implementation could have been handled better. The user suggested gathering user feedback, providing clearer communication and giving sufficient notice before introducing such changes, while noting that meaningful collaboration with users was important to the forum’s long-term sustainability. A community in decline? A poll conducted on HardwareZone showed strong resistance to the new measure. Of the 489 users who responded as of 28 January, 62 per cent (303 votes) indicated they had no intention of verifying their accounts. Just 17.6 per cent (86 users) had done so, while 37 per cent (181 users) remained unverified but did not rule out the option. Comments on the thread reflected broader disillusionment with the platform. One user wrote: “It will only push this forum further into its demise in the long run. Nowadays the forum is already more quiet and less active compared to years ago.” The change comes at a time when HardwareZone, like other media platforms under SPH Media, is undergoing structural transformation. Acquired by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) in 2006 for S$7.1 million, HardwareZone is now managed by SPH Media, which was spun off as a not-for-profit entity in 2021. SPH Media currently receives up to S$900 million in government grants over five years, aimed at ensuring its long-term sustainability as a provider of trusted news and information. Observers have noted that this arrangement reduces commercial pressure on SPH Media entities, potentially allowing them to prioritise regulatory alignment over user retention or profitability. Ongoing regulatory framework and implications HardwareZone’s designation as a Designated Social Media Service (DSMS) under the IMDA code reflects its scale and influence in Singapore’s digital ecosystem. Despite efforts to comply, IMDA’s 2024 Online Safety Assessment Report noted that HardwareZone’s age-gating measures were previously “easily bypassed” and called for either stricter access controls or comprehensive child protection features. The report also acknowledged that while HardwareZone’s user reporting systems were relatively effective, there remains room for improvement, particularly in its engagement with youth safety standards. As user trust continues to waver, the broader question remains: can platforms like HardwareZone maintain their relevance and community culture while complying with increasingly stringent safety and identity regulations?

It's mainly AWS

That's why Trump create Board of Peace with most members from Religion of Peace mah - but got USA sitting as head of family at the table

Religion of peace indeed. So peaceful until don't report their own kin... All one kind inside secretly supporting him

@HarrisY1 your type of teacher?