‘A step forward’: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong defends proposed anti-fake news law after storm of criticism

Speaking during a visit to Malaysia, Lee said his government’s proposed laws would be a ‘significant step forward’ in fighting online falsehoods

But his Malaysian counterpart, Mahathir Mohamad, said he was worried that governments could abuse such laws

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Singapore leader Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 5:40pm, 9 Apr 2019Updated: 3:41pm, 17 Dec 2019

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday defended his government’s proposed anti-fake news laws as a “step forward” in fighting online falsehoods, after they sparked criticism from press freedom groups and tech giants.

Speaking during a visit to Malaysia, Lee said that fake news was a “serious problem” and other countries including France, Germany and Australia were legislating to combat it.

Singapore – widely criticised for restricting free speech and clamping down on political rights – last week unveiled tough measures to fight fake news.

These included powers for ministers to order sites like Facebook, Google and Twitter to put warnings next to posts authorities deem false, and in extreme cases get them removed, as well as fines and jail terms in serious cases.

What we have done has worked for Singapore. And it is our objective to continue to do things that will work for Singapore.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

“Singapore is not the only one which has taken legislation on this issue,” Lee said at a joint conference with his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad.