Latest news with #ProtectionfromOnlineFalsehoodsandManipulationAct
Online Citizen
6 days ago
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Singapore tightens digital media laws as trust in news declines to 45%, says Reuters report
Singapore's traditionally tight media regulations have increasingly extended into digital and social platforms. Ahead of the May 2025 general election, authorities enacted a law targeting deepfakes and digitally altered media involving political candidates. The regulation forms part of a broader legislative framework that includes the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) and the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act. These laws aim to manage misinformation and protect public confidence in government institutions. According to the Digital News Report 2025 by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, the new deepfake law prohibits publishing or sharing AI-generated or digitally manipulated content that falsely depicts political candidates saying or doing things they did not. The law is broad, covering both favourable and unfavourable portrayals. It excludes animations, beauty filters, and entertainment-style memes. Platforms that fail to comply with takedown orders risk fines of up to US$1 million. This regulation follows increasing use of visual platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok for news. Usage of these platforms rose by 4 percentage points for YouTube and Instagram, and by 3 percentage points for TikTok. POFMA enforcement and high-profile corrections Singapore's POFMA gives ministers powers to order corrections of online content deemed false or harmful to public confidence. In November 2024, activist Kokila Annamalai received correction orders after alleging arbitrary executions in Singapore's criminal justice system. While Meta and X complied with the correction demands, Annamalai did not and now faces potential imprisonment. The government's rebuttals were posted on its official Factually website. In a separate case, multiple outlets including Bloomberg, The Edge, and The Online Citizen were directed to correct reports involving real estate deals linked to government ministers. Bloomberg noted it complied under protest and reserved the right to appeal. The ministers involved have since filed defamation suits against Bloomberg and one of its reporters. The Online Citizen faces extended restrictions Singapore also extended its restriction on The Online Citizen (TOC), preventing it from earning revenue from its website and social platforms until 2027. This follows its continued status as a Declared Online Location (DOL) under POFMA since July 2023. Originally set to expire on 21 July 2025, the ban was extended by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information on 11 June 2025. Authorities said the extension was necessary due to TOC's persistent publication of alleged falsehoods. However, on 13 June, Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), expressed serious concern, criticising the move as a troubling use of POFMA to silence dissent and suppress free expression, and urged the government to stop further eroding Singapore's shrinking civic space. Terry Xu, chief editor of TOC, described the extended DOL as a clear act of oppression against independent media and a targeted attack on the outlet. 'If the DOL were applied strictly according to the letter of the law, then Bloomberg and The Edge should have been subjected to the DOL as well, since they were issued Correction Directions containing more than three statements deemed false,' Xu argued. He also noted, 'It is particularly noteworthy that the Correction Directions involved in the declaration are linked to Minister K Shanmugam — the very person who introduced the POFMA law in the first place.' Mainstream media adapt through AI and consolidation Despite the regulatory environment, mainstream outlets such as Channel News Asia (CNA) continue to be trusted and widely used. CNA, part of the state-owned Mediacorp group, leads online news usage at 47%. Its broader media network includes Channel 5 and Channel 8, each with a 23% weekly reach. CNA has also expanded internationally to the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada as of March 2024, marking its 25th anniversary. However, Mediacorp also made strategic consolidations. In early 2024, it shut down TODAY, a digital newspaper once Singapore's second most-read outlet. The decision aimed to refocus resources towards CNA's digital newsroom, which now produces long-form weekend content. Mediacorp has been investing in semi-automated production processes such as FASTs—AI-generated news summaries aimed at mobile and social-first audiences. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) also released updated training guidelines urging media professionals to gain skills in generative AI and virtual production. The Reuters survey shows 7% of respondents have used AI chatbots to access news content. Digital-native outlets and language diversity The second most-used digital news platform in Singapore is Mothership at 46%, followed by the Straits Times, published by SPH Media Trust. SPH also operates Lianhe Zaobao (8% reach), Berita Harian (4%), and Tamil Murasu (1%), catering to Singapore's multilingual population. Yahoo! News, which ranks fourth in usage at 21%, recently shifted to full content syndication, laying off its editorial and social teams. This move signals industry-wide pressures on traditional news production. The report confirms a continued shift in news consumption habits. Social media and digital channels are now the primary sources of news. Platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook held steady, while younger-skewing services saw modest growth. In contrast, traditional platforms such as television and print have seen steep declines in use over recent years. Public trust in news continues to slide Public trust in news fell by 2 percentage points to 45%, despite legacy brands maintaining relatively high individual trust scores. The Straits Times (75%), CNA (74%), and Channel 5 (73%) were the most trusted among respondents. Alternative and independent outlets continue to lag behind in public trust, attributed to their shorter histories and focus on viral or controversial content. Singapore ranked 126th out of 180 in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders. Despite a technologically advanced media ecosystem, restrictions under POFMA and similar laws continue to limit media independence.
Singapore Law Watch
12-06-2025
- Business
- Singapore Law Watch
Second round of Pofma sanctions for owner of The Online Citizen's website, social media accounts
Second round of Pofma sanctions for owner of The Online Citizen's website, social media accounts Source: Straits Times Article Date: 12 Jun 2025 Author: Aqil Hamzah This is the second time that The Online Citizen has been slapped with the declaration, with its first due to expire in July 2025. The people behind The Online Citizen's (TOC) website and Facebook, Instagram and X pages will continue to be barred from deriving any financial benefits from the running of its platforms till 2027. In a statement on June 11, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said TOC's website and social media pages – which were labelled as Declared Online Locations (DOLs) – had been declared as such in July 2023, and the designation was due to expire on July 21, 2025. DOLs have to comply with actions under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) that would prevent their operator from financially benefiting during the period they are listed as one. However, said MDDI, TOC 'continued to communicate falsehoods through its online platforms over the past two years'. Between July 2023 and June 2025, it received eight correction directions under the fake news law. These included one on Feb 25, after TOC published an article about modification works at the Ridout Road colonial bungalow leased by Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam's wife. In its article, it said the Singapore Land Authority had given Mr Shanmugam assurances of a lease extension beyond its 2027 expiry, and that public funds were used to pay for the earthworks carried out at the bungalow since 2024, among other claims. These are falsehoods, said MDDI. As a result of the eight correction directions, TOC's website and social media pages have again been labelled DOLs, a move necessary 'to ensure Singaporeans continue to be alerted to TOC's record of communicating falsehoods', said the ministry. The new declaration comes into effect immediately after the current direction expires and will remain till July 21, 2027 at 12pm. TOC will be able to continue its operations, but will have to carry a notice on its online platforms to notify its audience that it has been declared a DOL. The notice will also have to state that it had 'communicated multiple falsehoods' and that its viewers should exercise caution when accessing it for information. MDDI added that service providers, including digital advertising agencies, will have to take steps to ensure that their paid content on TOC's platforms is not made available in Singapore. 'Individuals and companies must also not provide financial support to TOC's DOLs to avoid promoting the communication of falsehoods in Singapore on these platforms,' it added. There are three other outlets currently listed as DOLs. They are Transformative Justice Collective's website and social media pages, and Gutzy Asia's website and social media pages, as well as opposition politician Kenneth Jeyaretnam's website and social media pages. A provision under Pofma allows the Government to order an internet intermediary to disable access to a DOL if the owner of the DOL does not comply with the declaration and paid content on the site continues to be displayed to users here. If an internet intermediary fails to comply and is convicted, it can be fined up to $20,000 for each day that the government order is not fully complied with, up to a total of $500,000. The owner or operator of a DOL can however apply to the Minister for Digital Development and Information to suspend, vary or cancel the declaration. If the minister rejects the application, an appeal can be made to the High Court. 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. Print
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Second round of Pofma sanctions for owner of The Online Citizen's website, social media accounts
This is the second time that The Online Citizen has been slapped with the declaration, with its first due to expire in July 2025. PHOTO: THE ONLINE CITIZEN/FACEBOOK Second round of Pofma sanctions for owner of The Online Citizen's website, social media accounts SINGAPORE – The people running The Online Citizen's (TOC) website, Facebook, Instagram, and X pages will continue to be barred from deriving any financial benefits from the running of its platforms till 2027. In a statement on June 11 , the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said TOC's website and social media pages – which were labelled as Declared Online Locations (DOLs) – had first been declared as such in July 2023, and were due to expire on July 21, 2025. DOLs have to comply with actions under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) that would prevent their operator from financially benefiting during the period they are listed as one. However, said MDDI, TOC 'continued to communicate falsehoods through its online platforms over the past two years'. Between July 2023 and June 2025 , it received eigh t correction directions under the fake news law . These included one in Feb 25, after TOC published an article about modification works at the Ridout Road colonial bungalow leased by Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam's wife. In its article, it said the Singapore Land Authorit y had given Mr Shanmugam assurances of a lease extension beyond its 2027 expiry, and that public funds were used to pay for the earthworks carried out at the bungalow since 2024, among other claims. These are falsehoods, said MDDI. As a result, TOC's website and social media pages have again been labelled DOLs, a move necessary 'to ensure Singaporeans continue to be alerted to TOC's record of communicating falsehoods', said the ministry. The new declaration comes into effect immediately after the current direction expires and will remain till July 21, 2027 at 12p m. TOC will be able to continue its operations, but will have to carry a notice on its online platforms to notify its audience that it has been declared a DOL. The notice will also have to state that it had 'communicated multiple falsehoods' and that its viewers should exercise caution when accessing it for information. MDDI added that service providers, including digital advertising agencies, will have to take steps to ensure that their paid content on TOC's platforms are not made available in Singapore. 'Individuals and companies must also not provide financial support to TOC's DOLs to avoid promoting the communication of falsehoods in Singapore on these platforms,' it added. At present, there are three other outlets currently listed as DOLs. They are Transformative Justice Collective's website and social media pages, Gutzy Asia's website and social media pages, as well as opposition politician Kenneth Jeyaretnam's website and social media pages. A provision under Pofma allows the Government to order an internet intermediary to disable access to a DOL if the owner of the DOL does not comply with the declaration and paid content on the site continues to be displayed to users here. If an internet intermediary fails to comply and is convicted, it can be fined up to $20,000 for each day that the government order is not fully complied with, up to a total o f $500,000 . The owner or operator of a DOL can however apply to the Minister for Digital Development and Information to suspend, vary, or cancel the declaration. If the minister refuses the application, an appeal can be made to the High Court. Aqil Hamzah is a journalist covering breaking news at The Straits Times, with interests in crime and technology. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Second round of Pofma sanctions for owner of The Online Citizen's website, social media accounts
This is the second time that The Online Citizen has been slapped with the declaration, with its first due to expire in July 2025. - The Online Citizen/Facebook via ST/ANN SINGAPORE: The people running The Online Citizen's (TOC) website, Facebook, Instagram and X pages will continue to be barred from deriving any financial benefits from the running of its platforms till 2027. In a statement on June 11, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said TOC's website and social media pages – which were labelled as Declared Online Locations (DOLs) – had first been declared as such in July 2023, and were due to expire on July 21, 2025. DOLs have to comply with actions under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) that would prevent their operator from financially benefiting during the period they are listed as one. However, said MDDI, TOC 'continued to communicate falsehoods through its online platforms over the past two years'. Between July 2023 and June 2025, it received eight correction directions under the fake news law. These included one in February 25, after TOC published an article about modification works at the Ridout Road colonial bungalow leased by Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam's wife. In its article, it said the Singapore Land Authority had given Shanmugam assurances of a lease extension beyond its 2027 expiry, and that public funds were used to pay for the earthworks carried out at the bungalow since 2024, among other claims. These are falsehoods, said MDDI. As a result, TOC's website and social media pages have again been labelled DOLs, a move necessary 'to ensure Singaporeans continue to be alerted to TOC's record of communicating falsehoods', said the ministry. The new declaration comes into effect immediately after the current direction expires and will remain till July 21, 2027 at 12pm. TOC will be able to continue its operations, but will have to carry a notice on its online platforms to notify its audience that it has been declared a DOL. The notice will also have to state that it had 'communicated multiple falsehoods' and that its viewers should exercise caution when accessing it for information. MDDI added that service providers, including digital advertising agencies, will have to take steps to ensure that their paid content on TOC's platforms are not made available in Singapore. 'Individuals and companies must also not provide financial support to TOC's DOLs to avoid promoting the communication of falsehoods in Singapore on these platforms,' it added. At present, there are three other outlets currently listed as DOLs. They are Transformative Justice Collective's website and social media pages, Gutzy Asia's website and social media pages, as well as opposition politician Kenneth Jeyaretnam's website and social media pages. A provision under Pofma allows the Government to order an internet intermediary to disable access to a DOL if the owner of the DOL does not comply with the declaration and paid content on the site continues to be displayed to users here. If an internet intermediary fails to comply and is convicted, it can be fined up to S$20,000 (US$15,545) for each day that the government order is not fully complied with, up to a total of $500,000. The owner or operator of a DOL can however apply to the Minister for Digital Development and Information to suspend, vary or cancel the declaration. If the minister refuses the application, an appeal can be made to the High Court. - The Straits Times/ANN
AsiaOne
01-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
'Let's worry about ordinary Singaporeans instead': PSP says losing a few ministers won't weaken govt, Singapore News
The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) disagreed with the notion that losing some cabinet ministers would weaken the government, stating that voters need not worry for the People's Action Party (PAP) and should "worry about ordinary Singaporeans instead". At the party's final rally this general election on Thursday (May 1), PSP vice-chair Hazel Poa said: "PAP also says that if you vote for opposition, they could lose ministers. "But look at Minister Ong Ye Kung. He lost in GE2011 in Aljunied GRC, but he was brought back in the next election through a different GRC. "So do not worry for PAP. Let's worry about ordinary Singaporeans instead," she added. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Ong were some of the PAP candidates who made similar statements during the election period. These came as the focus was sharpened on the battleground ward of Punggol, where PAP had deployed Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong to fend off Workers' Party's advances. PSP secretary-general Leong Mun Wai also chimed in on the topic during the rally held at Jurong West Stadium. "Has the government been weakened since it lost George Yeo, Lim Hwee Hua and Ng Chee Meng?" he asked. "Could a weak government have raised GST (Goods and Services Tax) during high inflation? Could a weak government have passed laws like Pofma (Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act) and Fica (Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act)? Could a weak government have amended the constitution to create the reserved presidency in 2017? "The PAP government will not be weakened if they lose a few ministers, because the opposition will come in and provide more ideas," Leong added, calling the sentiment "rubbish". Party chairmain Tan Cheng Bock also addressed the matter as the rally concluded. Referring to NTUC secretary-general Ng, who this time is PAP's candidate for Jalan Kayu SMC, Dr Tan said: "When they say they are worried that... [they] will lose him as a minister, I worry. "Because on the one hand, they say [a] minister must be tough, must be strong, must be decisive... but he wasn't. "That episode that was related by Mun Wai and Hazel, the Allianz episode concerning NTUC, reflects the quality of that leadership, and you want him to be a minister? You better think twice," he added. Last year, German insurer Allianz had offered $2.2 billion in cash for at least 51 per cent of shares for Income Insurance, in which NTUC Enterprise has a majority stake. But the government intervened in October, pausing the deal as it decided it would not be in the public interest. Two months later, Allianz pulled out of the deal. Ng addressed the saga on April 27 at a rally, apologising while explaining the circumstances. During her speech, Poa also called on fellow West Coast-Jurong West GRC candidate Shawn Huang to clarify whether alleged plans by his PAP volunteers to disrupt a PSP walkabout were true and if they were executed. These plans were allegedly discussed in a WhatsApp group linked to grassroots volunteers of Huang's, she added. Supporters fill stadium for final rally A large, boisterous crowd was present for the PSP's final rally for the 2025 General Election. Some supporters came with flags, signs and party merchandise in tow and cheered loudly as candidates delivered their speeches. The rally also saw a surprise host: former Workers' Party MP Leon Perera, who has been spotted volunteering with PSP since last year. PSP is contesting in Chua Chu Kang and West Coast-Jurong West GRCs as well as Pioneer, Kebun Baru and Marymount SMCs. The party's West Coast-Jurong West team consists of Dr Tan, Leong and Poa alongside newcomers Sumarleki Amjah, 53, and Sani Ismail, 49. At the last general election in 2020, PSP contested in West Coast GRC where the PAP won by a whisker — getting 51.59 per cent of votes to PSP's 48.31 per cent. [[nid:717557]]
