Singapore invokes fake-news law again - Opposition political party ordered to correct 'misleading' claims about job market
Singapore invokes
fake-news law again
Opposition political party ordered
to correct 'misleading' claims about job market
WRITER: REUTERS
PUBLISHED : 14 DEC 2019 AT 21:19
SINGAPORE:
The Singapore government invoked its fake news law on Saturday to order an
opposition party to publish corrections on two social media posts and an
article on its website about local employment.
It is the
third time that authorities have used the law, called the Protection from
Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), since it came into effect two
months ago. But it is the first time it has been used against a political
party.
The
government ordered the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) to issue corrections to
a sponsored Facebook post, another post on its page on the social network as
well as an article on its website about the city-state’s job market.
The
article said a rising proportion of local professionals, managers, executives
and technicians (known localy as PMETs) were losing their jobs.
That was
disputed by the Manpower Ministry, which said the employment of PMETs had been
rising steadily since 2015.
Ordering the corrections, the
government statement said the posts and the article would need to carry a
notice that says they “contain a misleading graphic and false statement of
facts”.
The SDP,
which does not hold any seats in parliament, said it was looking into the
directives. As of Saturday evening, the posts and article had not been changed.
Rights
groups have warned that the so-called fake news law may stifle free speech, and
opposition politicians say it could give the government too much power as
elections loom.
The
government says the city-state is vulnerable to misleading and inaccurate news
because of its position as a global financial hub, its mixed ethnic and
religious population and widespread internet access.
Singapore,
which has been ruled by the People’s Action Party since its independence more
than half a century ago, is expected to hold elections within months.
In the
first case of the new law’s use, opposition political figure Brad Bowyer
swiftly complied with a correction request last month.
In the
second case, Facebook issued a correction notice on a user’s post at the
request of the Singapore government, following the user’s refusal to do so.
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