Singapore invokes ‘fake news’ law for first time over politician’s Facebook post

The island state has demanded the opposition’s Brad Bowyer correct a post questioning the independence of state investment firms GIC and Temasek

The legislation received significant criticism before it was passed in May, but the government insists it is needed to prevent the spread of disinformation

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The correction order issued by the Singapore government is one of the tools it can deploy under the new Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA). Photo: Reuters

Dewey Simin BeijingandBhavan Jaipragasin Hong Kong

Published: 5:42pm, 25 Nov 2019Updated: 8:16pm, 25 Nov 2019

The Singapore government on Monday invoked its newly enacted anti-fake news law for the first time to demand opposition politician Brad Bowyer correct a Facebook post in which he questioned the independence of the country’s two main state investment companies.

Bowyer, of the Progress Singapore Party, later wrote that he had amended the November 13 post as he “had no problem in following that request as I feel it is fair to have both points of view and clarifications and corrections of fact when necessary”.

In a statement, the government said Heng Swee Keat, the deputy prime minister and finance minister, had issued a “correction order” to Bowyer over his post, which dwelled on GIC and Temasek Holdings – among the world’s biggest state investors.

“The correction direction requires Mr Bowyer to carry in full the correction notice at the top of his Facebook post,” the statement said.

The ability to issue such an order is one of the tools that the new Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) grants all cabinet ministers.