Singapore ‘fake news’ law could hurt innovation, fears Google

Source: Hindustan Times dated 10.05.2019

Agence France-Presse

Singapore makes fake news publishing a crime

A law criminalising publication of fake news was passed in Singapore. It allows the government to block and order the removal of such content. The law bans falsehoods likely to influence polls. Offenders could face up to 10 years in jail.

TECH FIRMS, RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND JOURNALISTS FEEL THE NEW LAW COULD BE USED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CURB FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

SINGAPORE: Technology giant Google said on Thursday Singapore’s new law against “fake news” could hurt innovation, a crucial element in the high-tech sector which the government is developing as an economic growth driver.

The parliament on Wednesday passed legislation that gives ministers powers to order social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to put warnings next to posts authorities deem to be false and in some cases have them taken down.

If an action is judged to be malicious and damaging to Singapore’sinterests,companiescould be hit with fines of up to Sg$1 million (US$735,000). Individuals could face jail terms of up to 10 years.

Officials have said the law does not cover opinion, but will focus on fighting outright falsehoods carried on social media that can foment disorder in the ethnically diverse nation.

Ordering “corrections” to be placed alongside falsehoods will be the primary response by government officials rather than fines or jail terms, they said.

“Misinformation is a challenging issue and we are working hard to address it,” a Google spokesman said, a day after the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation bill was passed. “We remain concerned that this law will hurt innovation and the growth of the digital information ecosystem.

“How the law is implemented matters, and we are committed to working with policy makers on this process.”

Singapore has been expanding its high-tech sector and has convinced many of the world’s top companies to establish their regional offices and key facilities on the island.