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Singapore Law Watch
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Singapore Law Watch
Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo
Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo Source: Straits Times Article Date: 17 Jul 2025 Author: Goh Yan Han Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said Singapore must try to prevent 'cracks in our infrastructure of fact'. Laws against fake news and manipulated content during elections will continue to be essential in safeguarding Singaporeans against information threats, but by themselves they are not enough to push back against misinformation, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said on July 16. Instead, the Republic must try to prevent 'cracks in our infrastructure of fact', which pave the way for rogue actors to dominate its media and information landscape, as has happened elsewhere, said Mrs Teo. That is why the Government has stepped in to support public service media, she added, which ensures that Singaporeans have continued access to trusted news sources, and to uphold the integrity of the city-state's infospace. 'Our long-term goal remains unchanged, and that is to nurture a resilient information ecosystem – one where truth can stand on its own, and public trust is anchored in an informed, engaged and discerning citizenry,' she said at the Singapore Press Club Awards 2025 held at Pan Pacific Singapore. These efforts to counter misinformation are crucial because Singapore, as a diverse and open society, will always be susceptible to the dangers of misinformation, she said. Mrs Teo cited examples from the 2020 General Election, when there were falsehoods on projected population figures and Covid-19 testing of foreign workers; and the 2023 Presidential Election, when there was a false claim that the Government could trace how individuals voted and penalise them for their choices. Such attempts at misinformation could be addressed 'to some extent' with the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), which came into force in 2019. This is as Pofma does not generally take a falsehood out of circulation but requires that a correction notice be carried alongside it, which means people can continue to believe the falsehood despite it being called out. Lies also tend to travel faster than the truth, she added. 'We are realistic that a factual correction does not reach everyone who had seen the falsehood.' The risks during the recent May 3 general election were much greater with the availability of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, she noted. A compressed election timeline – there were nine days of campaigning during GE2025 – meant that the window to react was extremely narrow, said Mrs Teo. 'We therefore needed to be absolutely clear what was permitted and what was not, and who was accountable for validating the suspected content,' she added. In October 2024, the authorities put in new safeguards when election laws were amended. The Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act, or Eliona, prohibits digitally generated or manipulated election-related content that realistically misrepresents a candidate's speech or actions during the election period. Candidates have to declare whether content featuring them was true or false, and a wrongful declaration could have led to the result of their election being voided. Thankfully, GE2025 did not see a surge in egregious misinformation or malicious synthetic content, said Mrs Teo. Neither Pofma nor Eliona was invoked during the recent election. She added that Singapore is fortunate that its public service media remain trusted institutions, with the recent Reuters Digital News Report having found that 75 per cent of respondents trusted The Straits Times, while 74 per cent trusted CNA. 'These are outstanding achievements, especially when compared against the global average trust in media, which stands at just around 40 per cent,' she noted. Going forward, Mrs Teo said public service media has to continue developing the right talent and instincts to provide quality journalistic content for Singaporeans. 'Content is still key. Information is the currency of the industry, and your insight is what sets you apart from the rest. This is also your mission and duty to your audiences,' she said to a room of over 240 guests, including journalists past and present. Media outlets here must also keep pace with technology and the changing preferences of audiences by investing in new capabilities, adopting new processes and creating new products. Mrs Teo cited SPH Media's in-house multimedia facility Studio+65, which allows for virtual production, audiovisual storytelling and digital content creation. Mediacorp has also deployed AI in its newsrooms, automating translation and subtitling processes, she noted. In her speech, Mrs Teo spotlighted some award winners for innovating and finding new ways of bringing important stories to readers. They included ST senior correspondent Stephanie Yeo, who won a health journalism award for her well-researched reports on women's health issues that raised awareness of conditions such as endometriosis and menopause and their available treatment options. Endometriosis is a condition whereby tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside of the womb. Mrs Teo said public service media in Singapore has defied the odds and avoided the fates of many of its international counterparts, and that generations of journalists played an important role in fostering a thriving and vibrant media ecosystem here. 'It is fair to say that journalism has never been an easy job, and it has become only harder in recent decades. But you have soldiered on with a tireless commitment to excellence,' she said. 'Your dedication to the craft has been instrumental in upholding truth and trust in Singapore's information space, shaping an informed audience and a stronger Singapore.' Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said Sinfapore must try and prevent 'cracks in our infrastructure of fact'. SINGAPORE – Laws against fake news and manipulated content during elections will continue to be essential in safeguarding Singaporeans against information threats, but by themselves are not enough to push back against misinformation, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said on July 16. Instead, the Republic must try and prevent 'cracks in our infrastructure of fact', which pave the way for rogue actors to dominate its media and information landscape, as has happened elsewhere, said Mrs Teo. That is why the Government has stepped in to support public service media, she added, which ensures that Singaporeans have continued access to trusted news sources and to uphold the integrity of the city-state's infospace. 'Our long-term goal remains unchanged, and that is to nurture a resilient information ecosystem – one where truth can stand on its own, and public trust is anchored in an informed, engaged and discerning citizenry,' she said at the Singapore Press Club Awards 2025 held at Pan Pacific Singapore. These efforts to counter misinformation are crucial because Singapore, as a diverse and open society, will always be susceptible to the dangers of misinformation, she said. Mrs Teo cited examples from the 2020 general election, when there were falsehoods on projected population figures and Covid-19 testing of foreign workers; and the 2023 presidential election, when there was a false claim that the Government could trace how individuals voted and penalise them for their choices. Such attempts at misinformation could be addressed 'to some extent' with the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), which came into force in 2019. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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Lies also tend to travel faster than the truth, she added. 'We are realistic that a factual correction does not reach everyone who had seen the falsehood.' The risks during the recent May 3 general election were much greater with the availability of AI-generated deepfakes, she noted. A compressed election timeline - there were nine days of campaigning during GE2025 - meant that the window to react was extremely narrow, said Mrs Teo. 'We therefore needed to be absolutely clear what was permitted and what was not, and who was accountable for validating the suspected content,' she added. In October 2024, authorities put in new safeguards when it amended election laws. The Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act, or Eliona, prohibits digitally generated or manipulated election-related content that realistically misrepresents a candidate's speech or actions during the election period. Candidates have to declare whether content featuring them was true or false, and a wrongful declaration could have led to the result of their election being voided. Thankfully, GE2025 did not see a surge in egregious misinformation or malicious synthetic content, said Mrs Teo. Neither Pofma nor Eliona were invoked during the recent election. She added that Singapore is fortunate that its public service media remain trusted institutions, with the recent Reuters Digital News Report having found that 75 per cent of respondents trusted The Straits Times , while 74 per cent trusted CNA. 'These are outstanding achievements, especially when compared against the global average trust in media, which stands at just around 40 per cent,' she noted. Going forward, Mrs Teo said public service media has to continue developing the right talent and instincts to provide quality journalistic content to Singaporeans. 'Content is still key. Information is the currency of the industry, and your insight is what sets you apart from the rest. This is also your mission and duty to your audiences,' she said to a room of over 250 guests, including journalists past and present. Media outlets here must also keep pace with technology and the changing preferences of audiences by investing in new capabilities, adopting new processes and creating new products. She cited SPH Media's in-house multimedia facility Studio+65, which allows for virtual production, audiovisual storytelling and digital content creation. Mediacorp has also deployed AI in its newsrooms, automating translation and subtitling processes, she noted. In her speech, Mrs Teo spotlighted some award winners for innovating and finding new ways of bringing important stories to readers. They included ST senior correspondent Stephanie Yeo, who won a health journalism award for her well-researched reports on women's health issues that raised awareness of conditions such as endometriosis and menopause and their available treatment options. Endometriosis is a condition where menstruation tissue is found outside the womb. Mrs Teo said public service media in Singapore has defied the odds and avoided the fates of many of their international counterparts, and that generations of journalists played an important role in fostering a thriving and vibrant media ecosystem here. 'It is fair to say that journalism has never been an easy job, and it has become only harder in recent decades. But you have soldiered on with a tireless commitment to excellence,' she said. 'Your dedication to the craft has been instrumental in upholding truth and trust in Singapore's information space, shaping an informed audience and a stronger Singapore.'
Singapore Law Watch
12-06-2025
- Business
- Singapore Law Watch
Second round of Pofma sanctions for owner of The Online Citizen's website, social media accounts
Second round of Pofma sanctions for owner of The Online Citizen's website, social media accounts Source: Straits Times Article Date: 12 Jun 2025 Author: Aqil Hamzah This is the second time that The Online Citizen has been slapped with the declaration, with its first due to expire in July 2025. The people behind The Online Citizen's (TOC) website and Facebook, Instagram and X pages will continue to be barred from deriving any financial benefits from the running of its platforms till 2027. In a statement on June 11, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said TOC's website and social media pages – which were labelled as Declared Online Locations (DOLs) – had been declared as such in July 2023, and the designation was due to expire on July 21, 2025. DOLs have to comply with actions under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) that would prevent their operator from financially benefiting during the period they are listed as one. However, said MDDI, TOC 'continued to communicate falsehoods through its online platforms over the past two years'. Between July 2023 and June 2025, it received eight correction directions under the fake news law. These included one on Feb 25, after TOC published an article about modification works at the Ridout Road colonial bungalow leased by Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam's wife. In its article, it said the Singapore Land Authority had given Mr Shanmugam assurances of a lease extension beyond its 2027 expiry, and that public funds were used to pay for the earthworks carried out at the bungalow since 2024, among other claims. These are falsehoods, said MDDI. As a result of the eight correction directions, TOC's website and social media pages have again been labelled DOLs, a move necessary 'to ensure Singaporeans continue to be alerted to TOC's record of communicating falsehoods', said the ministry. The new declaration comes into effect immediately after the current direction expires and will remain till July 21, 2027 at 12pm. TOC will be able to continue its operations, but will have to carry a notice on its online platforms to notify its audience that it has been declared a DOL. The notice will also have to state that it had 'communicated multiple falsehoods' and that its viewers should exercise caution when accessing it for information. MDDI added that service providers, including digital advertising agencies, will have to take steps to ensure that their paid content on TOC's platforms is not made available in Singapore. 'Individuals and companies must also not provide financial support to TOC's DOLs to avoid promoting the communication of falsehoods in Singapore on these platforms,' it added. There are three other outlets currently listed as DOLs. They are Transformative Justice Collective's website and social media pages, and Gutzy Asia's website and social media pages, as well as opposition politician Kenneth Jeyaretnam's website and social media pages. A provision under Pofma allows the Government to order an internet intermediary to disable access to a DOL if the owner of the DOL does not comply with the declaration and paid content on the site continues to be displayed to users here. If an internet intermediary fails to comply and is convicted, it can be fined up to $20,000 for each day that the government order is not fully complied with, up to a total of $500,000. The owner or operator of a DOL can however apply to the Minister for Digital Development and Information to suspend, vary or cancel the declaration. If the minister rejects the application, an appeal can be made to the High Court. Aqil Hamzah is a journalist covering breaking news at The Straits Times, with interests in crime and technology. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Second round of Pofma sanctions for owner of The Online Citizen's website, social media accounts
This is the second time that The Online Citizen has been slapped with the declaration, with its first due to expire in July 2025. PHOTO: THE ONLINE CITIZEN/FACEBOOK Second round of Pofma sanctions for owner of The Online Citizen's website, social media accounts SINGAPORE – The people running The Online Citizen's (TOC) website, Facebook, Instagram, and X pages will continue to be barred from deriving any financial benefits from the running of its platforms till 2027. In a statement on June 11 , the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said TOC's website and social media pages – which were labelled as Declared Online Locations (DOLs) – had first been declared as such in July 2023, and were due to expire on July 21, 2025. DOLs have to comply with actions under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) that would prevent their operator from financially benefiting during the period they are listed as one. However, said MDDI, TOC 'continued to communicate falsehoods through its online platforms over the past two years'. Between July 2023 and June 2025 , it received eigh t correction directions under the fake news law . These included one in Feb 25, after TOC published an article about modification works at the Ridout Road colonial bungalow leased by Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam's wife. In its article, it said the Singapore Land Authorit y had given Mr Shanmugam assurances of a lease extension beyond its 2027 expiry, and that public funds were used to pay for the earthworks carried out at the bungalow since 2024, among other claims. These are falsehoods, said MDDI. As a result, TOC's website and social media pages have again been labelled DOLs, a move necessary 'to ensure Singaporeans continue to be alerted to TOC's record of communicating falsehoods', said the ministry. The new declaration comes into effect immediately after the current direction expires and will remain till July 21, 2027 at 12p m. TOC will be able to continue its operations, but will have to carry a notice on its online platforms to notify its audience that it has been declared a DOL. The notice will also have to state that it had 'communicated multiple falsehoods' and that its viewers should exercise caution when accessing it for information. MDDI added that service providers, including digital advertising agencies, will have to take steps to ensure that their paid content on TOC's platforms are not made available in Singapore. 'Individuals and companies must also not provide financial support to TOC's DOLs to avoid promoting the communication of falsehoods in Singapore on these platforms,' it added. At present, there are three other outlets currently listed as DOLs. They are Transformative Justice Collective's website and social media pages, Gutzy Asia's website and social media pages, as well as opposition politician Kenneth Jeyaretnam's website and social media pages. A provision under Pofma allows the Government to order an internet intermediary to disable access to a DOL if the owner of the DOL does not comply with the declaration and paid content on the site continues to be displayed to users here. If an internet intermediary fails to comply and is convicted, it can be fined up to $20,000 for each day that the government order is not fully complied with, up to a total o f $500,000 . The owner or operator of a DOL can however apply to the Minister for Digital Development and Information to suspend, vary, or cancel the declaration. If the minister refuses the application, an appeal can be made to the High Court. Aqil Hamzah is a journalist covering breaking news at The Straits Times, with interests in crime and technology. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Second round of Pofma sanctions for owner of The Online Citizen's website, social media accounts
This is the second time that The Online Citizen has been slapped with the declaration, with its first due to expire in July 2025. - The Online Citizen/Facebook via ST/ANN SINGAPORE: The people running The Online Citizen's (TOC) website, Facebook, Instagram and X pages will continue to be barred from deriving any financial benefits from the running of its platforms till 2027. In a statement on June 11, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said TOC's website and social media pages – which were labelled as Declared Online Locations (DOLs) – had first been declared as such in July 2023, and were due to expire on July 21, 2025. DOLs have to comply with actions under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) that would prevent their operator from financially benefiting during the period they are listed as one. However, said MDDI, TOC 'continued to communicate falsehoods through its online platforms over the past two years'. Between July 2023 and June 2025, it received eight correction directions under the fake news law. These included one in February 25, after TOC published an article about modification works at the Ridout Road colonial bungalow leased by Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam's wife. In its article, it said the Singapore Land Authority had given Shanmugam assurances of a lease extension beyond its 2027 expiry, and that public funds were used to pay for the earthworks carried out at the bungalow since 2024, among other claims. These are falsehoods, said MDDI. As a result, TOC's website and social media pages have again been labelled DOLs, a move necessary 'to ensure Singaporeans continue to be alerted to TOC's record of communicating falsehoods', said the ministry. The new declaration comes into effect immediately after the current direction expires and will remain till July 21, 2027 at 12pm. TOC will be able to continue its operations, but will have to carry a notice on its online platforms to notify its audience that it has been declared a DOL. The notice will also have to state that it had 'communicated multiple falsehoods' and that its viewers should exercise caution when accessing it for information. MDDI added that service providers, including digital advertising agencies, will have to take steps to ensure that their paid content on TOC's platforms are not made available in Singapore. 'Individuals and companies must also not provide financial support to TOC's DOLs to avoid promoting the communication of falsehoods in Singapore on these platforms,' it added. At present, there are three other outlets currently listed as DOLs. They are Transformative Justice Collective's website and social media pages, Gutzy Asia's website and social media pages, as well as opposition politician Kenneth Jeyaretnam's website and social media pages. A provision under Pofma allows the Government to order an internet intermediary to disable access to a DOL if the owner of the DOL does not comply with the declaration and paid content on the site continues to be displayed to users here. If an internet intermediary fails to comply and is convicted, it can be fined up to S$20,000 (US$15,545) for each day that the government order is not fully complied with, up to a total of $500,000. The owner or operator of a DOL can however apply to the Minister for Digital Development and Information to suspend, vary or cancel the declaration. If the minister refuses the application, an appeal can be made to the High Court. - The Straits Times/ANN
