THE current wide-ranging ban on party political films stifles expression. It also stands in the way of works that could contribute to well-informed, rational and insightful debate on issues.

That is the view of the Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society (AIMS), which says the outright ban must go.

The council suggests three ways to liberalise Section 33 of the Films Act, which regulates such works.

It wants the public to give feedback on which of the three to recommend to the Government.

The first is to narrow the scope of the law, which now takes a 'broad, drift-net approach'.

That will mean excluding only films that distort facts and mislead the viewer. What makes the cut and what does not will be determined by an independent, non-partisan citizens' panel.

The second option is to repeal Section 33 from the Films Act and introduce several possible conditions, such as a blackout on new political films during election season.

The third option is to repeal the law in phases, by first narrowing its scope, then moving towards a total removal when 'the negative risks of misleading films are assessed to have been minimised', AIMS said in its report.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.