SINGAPORE (Apr 5): Tackling falsehoods has become a high priority for the Ministry of Law.
A year after the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods’ hearings took place, the ministry has now introduced the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill, to “protect society against damage from online falsehoods created by malicious actors”.
The bill is meant to deal with false statements online that undermine public interest in the security of Singapore, public health or public finances friendly relations of Singapore with other countries, election outcomes, or incite enmity between groups of people and diminish public confidence in the government.
In a statement, the ministry says, “Such online falsehoods have had serious consequences. They are being used to divide society, spread hate and weaken democratic institutions. Combined with digital technology, the dangers of falsehoods have become more serious and greater in scale.”
Current laws allow for prosecution under the Sedition Act, or can compel individuals to take down posts under the Protection from Harassment Act.
The key distinction of the new Bill is the speed with which corrective action can be taken. Additionally, the requirement to place a correction next to the offending statement is aimed at ensuring that it would be read by all.
If the false statement is seen to be very serious and harmful, it can be ordered to be taken down. Individuals and internet platforms must comply with correcting the falsehood or take it down. The companies could face fines of up to $1 million, while individuals could even be jailed for a year on top of a maximum $20,000 fine.
Singapore is among 20 countries that have implemented or are considering implementing laws to tackle false news.
What are some of the concerns over the Law Ministry’s proposal, and how does Singapore’s ‘fake news’ bill compare with France’s and Germany’s?
Login to read: Online falsehoods bill elicits concern over ministerial powers but many see its use, or get your copy of The Edge Singapore, issue 876 (week of April 8) at newsstands today.
