The Singapore government should make key amendments to its proposed law against online falsehoods to better reassure the public that it will not use the bill to stifle free speech and more clearly state the true intent of the act. As it stands, the draft Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill grants the government “far-reaching powers” over online communication and this has created “significant concern”.
Such tools could be used by future governments “to suppress or chill debate and expression for political purposes”, according to a statement jointly released on Tuesday by three Nominated Members of Parliaments (NMPs): Anthea Ong, Irene Quay, and Walter Theseira. NMPs are unelected MPs first introduced in 1990 as an avenue to allow citizens with no political party affiliation to participate in Singapore’s parliamentary debates.
First tabled in parliament last month, the proposed bill will require online sites to remove false information or show corrections to false and misleading claims. It also will allow the government to order media platforms to shut fake accounts or bots that spread misinformation.