Singapore passes 'fake news' law despite fierce criticism
Singapore passes 'fake
news' law despite fierce criticism
Date
created : 08/05/2019 - 17:29
Singapore's parliament Wednesday passed laws to
combat "fake news" that will allow authorities to order the removal
of content despite fierce criticism from tech giants, the media and rights
groups.
They give government ministers powers to order
social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to put warnings next to posts
authorities deem to be false and in extreme cases get them taken down.
If an action is judged to be malicious and
damaging to Singapore's interests, companies could be hit with fines of up to
Sg$1 million ($735,000).
Individuals could face jail terms of up to 10
years.
Authorities in the tightly-controlled country --
long criticised for restricting civil liberties -- insist the measures are
necessary to stop the circulation of falsehoods which could sow divisions in
society and erode trust in institutions.
But the laws have sparked outrage from rights
groups -- who fear they could stifle online discussion -- tech companies with
major bases in the financial hub and journalists' organisations.
The legislation "gives the Singapore
authorities unchecked powers to clamp down on online views of which it
disapproves," said Nicholas Bequelin, Amnesty International?s regional
director for East and Southeast Asia.
"It criminalises free speech and allows the
government almost unfettered power to censor dissent. It doesn’t even provide
any real definition of what is true or false or, even more worrying,
'misleading.'"
The measures were debated for two days in
parliament, which is dominated by the ruling People's Action Party, before
being passed late Wednesday.
The city-state's small opposition Workers' Party
-- with only six elected members in the 89-seat chamber -- opposed the
measures.
The Asia Internet Coalition, an industry
association whose members include Facebook, Google and Twitter, has described
it as the "most far-reaching legislation of its kind to date".
But addressing parliament on the issue Tuesday,
law and home affairs minister K. Shanmugam said that tech companies could not
be relied upon to regulate themselves.
"This is serious business. Tech companies
will say many things to try and advocate their position," he said.
"We have to show them we are fair, but also firm."
The government stresses the laws target false
statements, not opinions, and that ordering "corrections" to be
placed alongside falsehoods will be the primary response rather than fines or
jail terms.
Any government decision can be appealed to the
courts -- although critics say there are few people who would have the
resources or will to take on the authorities.
? 2019 AFP
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