Singapore passed a law criminalizing publication of fake news and allowing the government to block and order the removal of such content, report says.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong smiles after a press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Tuesday, April 9, 2019. Singapore reportedly has passed a law criminalizing the publication of fake news and allowing the government to block and order the removal of such content.
The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill passed Wednesday night by a vote of 72-9, a lawmaker with the opposition Worker’s Party, Daniel Goh, said on Twitter. Opponents in Parliament said it gave government ministers too much power to determine what was false and broadly defined public interest.
Human Rights Watch sharply criticized the law. It is a “disaster for online expression by ordinary Singaporeans” and a “hammer blow” against the independence of online news portals, said Phil Robertson, the group’s deputy Asia director.saying many countries had them and that Singapore had debated the issue for two years. He rejected criticism the law could further stifle free speech in Singapore, which already has stern laws on public protests and dissent.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Google says Singapore's fake news law may hurt innovationGoogle says Singapore's fake news law may hurt innovation, a quality that the city-state wants to nurture under plans to expand its tech industry by RDchatters
Read more »
Singapore debates a law targeting fake news online. Critics warn of a chilling effectSingapore passed a law that imposes jail time and steep fines for companies or individuals who post false information that harms the country. The law has raised serious concerns about a chilling effect on freedom of expression, press and academic research in a city-state controlled by one party.
Read more »
Facebook's 'fake news' problem won't be solved by banning right-wing, anti-Semitic trollsHuman beings are not faceless meat-sacks who exist to make money for Big Tech. It's time social media companies own up to their moral obligations.
Read more »
A frothy stock market? That’s just fake newsWhat long-term sentiment indicators are telling us about the stock market.
Read more »
Half of European voters may have viewed Russian-backed ‘fake news’More than half of Europeans may have seen some form of disinformation promoted by Russian actors on social networks ahead of the parliamentary election, according to an analysis we reviewed
Read more »
Shanahan directs military to criminalize sexual harassment“To put it bluntly, we are not performing to the standards and expectations we have for ourselves or for each other," Shanahan wrote in a memo.
Read more »
Joe Biden's son, Hunter, reportedly splits from late brother, Beau's, widowHunter and Hallie Biden have reportedly called it quits
Read more »
SoftBank is reportedly weighing up an audacious IPO for its $100 billion Vision FundThe Wall Street Journal also reports SoftBank courting Oman for investment, having achieved nearly all of its funding from Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi.
Read more »
Fidelity is reportedly about to offer cryptocurrency trading for pros within a few weeksFidelity Investments new cryptocurrency company will begin to offer trading in a few weeks.
Read more »