Singapore tables internet-era foreign interference law citing cases in Australia, EU
- Authorities in the island nation say it is especially vulnerable to online misinformation campaigns, such as those experienced by Western nations
- Without naming the countries involved, the home affairs ministry outlined two incidents involving alleged China-linked activities in Australia and the EU
The introduction of the new legislation was widely expected after law and home affairs minister K. Shanmugam in 2019 said fresh measures were required to deal with a threat that was at times graver than conventional military force.
In a press statement announcing the introduction of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) bill, Singapore’s authorities did not spell out whether they were targeting specific governments.
Chong Ja Ian, a foreign policy scholar with the National University of Singapore (NUS), said while the bill was broadly worded, it was likely to create the impression in some people that the city state was targeting China, as Beijing had been “by far the most active in using irregular lobbying and influence efforts”.
The passage of the new law is a formality as the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has a legislative supermajority in parliament.