Fake news decisions by Singapore government should be subject to review by independent council, say lawmakers

Ahead of a parliamentary debate of Singapore’s anti-fake news bill, three lawmakers have released suggested amendments to the law

They also proposed that the government spell out the rationale for its decisions, and that parties get access to low-cost methods of legal recourse in appeals

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Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 10:16pm, 1 May 2019Updated: 11:18am, 2 May 2019

Singapore’s proposed new law to combat “fake news” is facing strong resistance ahead of a parliamentary debate on the legislation – with three independent lawmakers this week joining the fray by proposing amendments to the controversial bill.

The intervention by the three nominated members of parliament (NMPs) comes amid alarm among some Singapore-focused academics, journalists and global tech giants, over provisions in the law which they say give the government arbitrary powers to determine what is deemed as a fact.

The critics have said that, more than anything, the Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill is likely to strengthen the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP) long-standing firm approach towards dissent.

Foremost among their concerns is that the government will use the law to target material such as academic papers, parodies and satire which do not paint the PAP in a good light.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s government has volleyed back, claiming the law is necessary to combat the proliferation of deliberate falsehoods that could harm social stability in the multiracial city state.

Among the proposed measures are penalties of 10 years’ jail time and S$1 million (US$738,500) in fines for the most severe cases of fake news propagation.