Latest news with #ThePeople'sVoice
AFP
5 days ago
- Health
- AFP
Bill Gates' trip to Singapore falsely linked to 'vaccine mandate' claims
"Singapore passes law to mandate vaccines and jail the unvaccinated -- days after Bill Gates' high-level visit," reads a May 12 post by an Australia-based Facebook page with more than 9,000 followers. The post links to an article with the same headline on "The People's Voice", a dubious website which AFP has repeatedly fact-checked for amplifying Covid-19 misinformation. The site has also previously claimed Gates and the World Health Organization (WHO) were "forcing vaccination", which AFP has debunked here. "Just as Bill Gates and the WHO's Tedros Ghebreyesus wrapped up high-profile visits with the nation's top leaders, sweeping changes were quietly pushed through the country's legal system—changes that now make it a crime to refuse mandatory government vaccines," reads the article, calling the timing "impossible to ignore". Image Screenshot of the false Facebook post, captured on May 29, 2025 Other posts claiming Singapore would mandate vaccines also appeared on X, Facebook and TikTok. But Singapore's Ministry of Health told AFP the claims are false. "Singapore has not passed any laws on vaccinations after Mr Gates' recent visit to Singapore," the ministry said in an emailed statement on June 3. re on May 5 to announce his philanthropic Gates Foundation would be opening an office in the country (archived link). The Straits Times and Forbes also reported the announcement (archived here and here). Low likelihood of vaccine mandate A number of the false posts referenced Sections 47, 65, and 67 of Singapore's Infectious Disease Law (archived link). The provisions state that the director-general of health may direct "any person or class of persons not protected or vaccinated against the disease to undergo vaccination" when "an outbreak of an infectious disease... is imminent" and "it is necessary or expedient to do so for the securing public safety". "The authorities must show these two requirements are satisfied before they can impose any vaccine mandate," Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University, told AFP on May 29 (archived link). Penalties for failing to be vaccinated under the amendments would include a fine of up to 10,000 Singapore dollars (around US$7,760) and a prison term of up to six month for the first offence, while a second offence would see the punishment doubled. Tan said the penalties, however, would only apply when a vaccine mandate is in place, though the "likelihood of such a scenario is very low". He added that the statutes within the law make a blanket vaccine mandate "highly exceptional because they are severely intrusive and people cannot be compelled to be vaccinated". More of AFP's reporting on health misinformation is available here.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bill Gates' trip to Singapore falsely linked to 'vaccine mandate' claims
"Singapore passes law to mandate vaccines and jail the unvaccinated -- days after Bill Gates' high-level visit," reads a May 12 post by an Australia-based Facebook page with more than 9,000 followers. The post links to an article with the same headline on "The People's Voice", a dubious website which AFP has repeatedly fact-checked for amplifying Covid-19 misinformation. The site has also previously claimed Gates and the World Health Organization (WHO) were "forcing vaccination", which AFP has debunked here. "Just as Bill Gates and the WHO's Tedros Ghebreyesus wrapped up high-profile visits with the nation's top leaders, sweeping changes were quietly pushed through the country's legal system—changes that now make it a crime to refuse mandatory government vaccines," reads the article, calling the timing "impossible to ignore". Other posts claiming Singapore would mandate vaccines also appeared on X, Facebook and TikTok. But Singapore's Ministry of Health told AFP the claims are false. "Singapore has not passed any laws on vaccinations after Mr Gates' recent visit to Singapore," the ministry said in an emailed statement on June 3. The billionaire was in Singapore on May 5 to announce his philanthropic Gates Foundation would be opening an office in the country (archived link). The Straits Times and Forbes also reported the announcement (archived here and here). A number of the false posts referenced Sections 47, 65, and 67 of Singapore's Infectious Disease Law (archived link). The provisions state that the director-general of health may direct "any person or class of persons not protected or vaccinated against the disease to undergo vaccination" when "an outbreak of an infectious disease... is imminent" and "it is necessary or expedient to do so for the securing public safety". "The authorities must show these two requirements are satisfied before they can impose any vaccine mandate," Eugene Tan, an associate professor of law at Singapore Management University, told AFP on May 29 (archived link). Penalties for failing to be vaccinated under the amendments would include a fine of up to 10,000 Singapore dollars (around US$7,760) and a prison term of up to six month for the first offence, while a second offence would see the punishment doubled. Tan said the penalties, however, would only apply when a vaccine mandate is in place, though the "likelihood of such a scenario is very low". He added that the statutes within the law make a blanket vaccine mandate "highly exceptional because they are severely intrusive and people cannot be compelled to be vaccinated". More of AFP's reporting on health misinformation is available here.
New Paper
6 days ago
- General
- New Paper
MOH debunks fake news on S'pore doing first Covid-19 autopsy and jailing those unvaccinated
Two pieces of fake news made about Covid-19 in Singapore have been debunked by the Ministry of Health (MOH), as it urged the public not to spread unsubstantiated claims that may cause public alarm. On June 3, the ministry said it is aware of "two pieces of misinformation" currently being spread on social media. The first has to do with a message claiming that Singapore was the first country to conduct an autopsy on a person who had tested positive for Covid-19, which it said was found to exist as a bacterium and not a virus. The claim was first circulated in 2021, and re-emerged recently. "This is false. As clarified by the ministry then, Singapore has not performed such an autopsy, and it is also not true that Covid-19 is caused by a bacterium," said MOH. It also said social media posts alleging that Singapore had enacted laws to mandate vaccines and jail those unvaccinated after Microsoft founder Bill Gates visited the Republic in early May are not true. The Straits Times found that such claims had been published in articles on two websites - Slay News and The People's Voice - which tout themselves as news sites. Slay News describes itself as "unapologetically pro-America and pro-free speech", while The People's Voice says it covers "topics the mainstream media won't touch". A search online shows that Slay News' website is registered in North Carolina, and a check of its address in Google Maps shows what looks to be a small farmhouse on a highway stretch. The People's Voice, meanwhile, has its website registered in Arizona, although it has no listed company address. Most of the articles published on both sites centre around right-wing ideology, conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine rhetoric, with fact-checking website Snopes labelling The People's Voice as a rebrand of disinformation-spreading site NewsPunch. For accurate and up-to-date information, members of the public should visit the MOH website at instead.
The Star
6 days ago
- General
- The Star
Health Ministry debunks fake news on Singapore doing first Covid-19 autopsy and jailing those unvaccinated
MOH urged the public to not spread unsubstantiated claims that may cause public alarm. - ST SINGAPORE: Two pieces of fake news made about Covid-19 in Singapore have been debunked by the Ministry of Health (MOH), as it urged the public to not spread unsubstantiated claims that may cause public alarm. On Tuesday (June 3), the ministry said it is aware of 'two pieces of misinformation' currently being spread on social media. The first has to do with a message claiming that Singapore was the first country to conduct an autopsy on a person who had tested positive for Covid-19, which it said was found to exist as a bacterium and not a virus. The claim was first circulated in 2021, and re-emerged recently. 'This is false. As clarified by the ministry then, Singapore has not performed such an autopsy, and it is also not true that Covid-19 is caused by a bacterium,' said MOH. It also said social media posts alleging that Singapore had enacted laws to mandate vaccines and jail those unvaccinated after Microsoft founder Bill Gates visited the Republic in early May are not true. The Straits Times found that such claims had been published in articles on two websites – Slay News and The People's Voice – which tout themselves as news sites. Slay News describes itself as 'unapologetically pro-America and pro-free speech', while The People's Voice says it covers 'topics the mainstream media won't touch'. A search online shows that Slay News' website is registered in North Carolina, and a check of its address in Google Maps shows what looks to be a small farmhouse on a highway stretch. The People's Voice, meanwhile, has its website registered in Arizona, although it has no listed company address. Most of the articles published on both sites centre around right-wing ideology, conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine rhetoric, with fact-checking website Snopes labelling The People's Voice as a rebrand of disinformation-spreading site NewsPunch. For accurate and up-to-date information, members of the public should visit the MOH website at instead. - The Straits Times/ANN
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
MOH debunks fake news on Singapore doing first Covid-19 autopsy and jailing those unvaccinated
SINGAPORE – Two pieces of fake news made about Covid-19 in Singapore have been debunked by the Ministry of Health (MOH), as it urged the public to not spread unsubstantiated claims that may cause public alarm. On June 3, the ministry said it is aware of 'two pieces of misinformation' currently being spread on social media. The first has to do with a message claiming that Singapore was the first country to conduct an autopsy on a person who had tested positive for Covid-19, which it said was found to exist as a bacterium and not a virus. The claim was first circulated in 2021, and re-emerged recently. 'This is false. As clarified by the ministry then, Singapore has not performed such an autopsy, and it is also not true that Covid-19 is caused by a bacterium,' said MOH. It also said social media posts alleging that Singapore had enacted laws to mandate vaccines and jail those unvaccinated after Microsoft founder Bill Gates visited the Republic in early May are not true. The Straits Times found that such claims had been published in articles on two websites – Slay News and The People's Voice – which tout themselves as news sites. Slay News describes itself as 'unapologetically pro-America and pro-free speech', while The People's Voice says it covers 'topics the mainstream media won't touch'. A search online shows that Slay News' website is registered in North Carolina, and a check of its address in Google Maps shows what looks to be a small farmhouse on a highway stretch. The People's Voice, meanwhile, has its website registered in Arizona, although it has no listed company address. Most of the articles published on both sites centre around right-wing ideology, conspiracy theories and anti-vaccine rhetoric, with fact-checking website Snopes labelling The People's Voice as a rebrand of disinformation-spreading site NewsPunch. For accurate and up-to-date information, members of the public should visit the MOH website at instead. 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 Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
