On the new media regulations under the Media Development Authority and its implication on the opposition political parties in the lead-up to the country's general elections in 2016, SMU Assistant Professor of Law and NMP Eugene Tan said that, while he saw the new licensing regime as "an ambitious attempt" to harmonise both online and traditional news platforms, there was still "palpable concern" that the government was seeking to censor the internet. He also noted the government's dilemma in winning over public opinion due to its implementation of recent policies. Assistant Prof Tan said "Each setback will only add on to earlier setbacks and may contribute to declining trust in the government. The government must urgently stem this decline in trust and confidence or it will go into the next general election with a distinct disadvantage. It needs to show that its policies are not only effective but have deep legitimacy."