Latest news with #ForeignInterference(Countermeasures)Act
Online Citizen
17-06-2025
- 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.
South China Morning Post
28-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Lawrence Wong flags Malaysian election influence attempts ahead of Singapore polls
Singapore 's political leaders are warning against foreign attempts to influence voters in an election campaign, under measures introduced four years ago to guard against external meddling. Advertisement Lawrence Wong , leader of the city state's ruling People's Action Party, said at a rally on Saturday that foreign actors, including a political party in Malaysia , had tried to influence the outcome of Singapore's elections. He warned that the mixing of religion and politics, as well as calls to support candidates based on race or religion, were 'very dangerous'. Meanwhile, Pritam Singh, who leads the largest opposition Workers' Party, said his team categorically rejected any involvement of foreign elements in domestic politics. 'Singapore is our business – nobody else's,' Singh said at a rally on the same day. Pritam Singh, Singapore's leader of the opposition and secretary general of the Workers' Party, speaks during a rally on Saturday. Photo: EPA-EFE The warnings followed a government order issued to Meta Platforms Inc. to take down several Facebook advertisements published by foreigners during the election period, according to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Elections Department on Friday. This is the first parliamentary election since the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act was passed in 2021 , which gives officials power to curb foreign efforts to influence Singapore's political affairs. Authorities identified two members of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia – a conservative Islamist party and the largest opposition group in Malaysia – among the Facebook posts. Security personnel watch over supporters of Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) during rally outside a polling station in Malaysia's Terengganu state. Photo: AFP
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Singapore politicians warn against foreign meddling in election
By Yihui Xie (Bloomberg) – Singapore's political leaders are warning against foreign attempts to influence voters in an election campaign, under measures introduced four years ago to guard against external meddling. Lawrence Wong, leader of the city-state's ruling People's Action Party, said at a rally on Saturday that foreign actors, including a political party in Malaysia, had tried to influence the outcome of Singapore's elections. He warned that the mixing of religion and politics, as well as calls to support candidates based on race or religion, were 'very dangerous.' Pritam Singh, who leads the largest opposition Workers' Party, said his team categorically rejects any involvement of foreign elements in domestic politics. 'Singapore is our business – nobody else's,' Singh said at a rally the same day. The warnings followed a government order issued to Meta Platforms to take down several Facebook advertisements published by foreigners during the election period, according to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Elections Department on Friday. This is the first parliamentary election since the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act was passed in 2021, which gives officials power to curb foreign efforts to influence Singapore's political affairs. Authorities identified two members of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia – a conservative Islamist party and the largest opposition group in Malaysia – among the Facebook posts. The list also included an Australian citizen who renounced his Singapore citizenship in 2020 and had previously been detained under Singapore's Internal Security Act for promotion of the terrorist group ISIS, according to the statement. Paul Tambyah, chairman of opposition Singapore Democratic Party, raised concerns about foreign bots on Facebook spreading misinformation about candidates. Tambyah urged the Ministry of Digital Development and Information to take action, stressing that the impact of such influences may persist beyond elections. The country's election campaign started on Wednesday, and will last nine days – making it one of the world's shortest – before voters head to the polls on May 3. More stories like this are available on ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Property tycoon Robert Ng and 3 children designated politically significant persons under Fica
(Clockwise from top left) Singaporean property tycoon Robert Ng and three of his children – Mr Daryl Ng, Mr David Ng and Ms Nikki Ng – have been designated 'politically significant persons'. PHOTOS: BLOOMBERG, YEO HIAP SENG, DAVID NG/LINKEDIN, PBCFORUM SINGAPORE – Singaporean property tycoon Robert Ng Chee Siong and three of his children have been designated as 'politically significant persons' under the nation's foreign interference law designed to guard against the risks of foreign influence in domestic politics. Under Singapore's Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (Fica), they must declare political donations of $10,000 or more, among other precautionary oversight measures, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a statement on April 22. The measures, under Section 48(1) of Fica, will apply to Mr Robert Ng – chairman of Hong Kong-listed Sino Group, the sister company of Singapore's Far East Organization – whose affiliations with major Communist Party of China committees have put him under scrutiny of the Singapore authorities. The Fica measures also apply to his sons, Mr Daryl Ng Win Kong and Mr David Ng Win Loong, and his daughter, Ms Nikki Ng Mien Hua, with effect from April 22. According to publicly available records, the four are members of committees of China's top political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) – an advisory group within the Communist Party of China's political system. MHA said in a statement on April 22 that the four were formally informed on April 7 that they would be designated as politically significant persons (PSPs). They did not object to the decision, it added. 'The designations of the four individuals are not because they have engaged in any egregious activity,' said the ministry. The family members had declared to the Registry of Foreign and Political Disclosures in 2024 that they are members of a foreign legislature or foreign political organisation, MHA said in an earlier statement on April 7. The declarations are mandatory for Singaporeans who are members of such foreign organisations, under Section 79 of Fica. Under Fica, the four will be required to make annual disclosures to the registrar on political donations of $10,000 or more that they receive and accept, as well as on their foreign affiliations and migration benefits such as honorary citizenship or permanent residency. Mr Robert Ng's family has a significant public profile in Singapore, with Far East Organization and Sino Group among the largest property developers in the country. The groups are linked to major property developments here, including the Fullerton Heritage project and the redevelopment of Golden Mile Complex. Sino Group's philanthropic arm, Hong Kong-based Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, has also made donations to several charitable causes and given substantial amounts to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in Jurong, as well as supporting the National Gallery Singapore. Mr Robert Ng has been increasingly linked to significant roles in the Chinese political sphere, including as the National Committee's deputy director of the committee for economic affairs and the vice-chairman of the China Overseas Friendship Association, a foreign affairs organisation under the Chinese government. His children, Mr Daryl Ng, 46; Ms Ng, 44; and Mr David Ng, 36, are members of the CPPCC's local committees, among other political affiliations. They are the deputy chairman, non-executive director and group associate director at Sino Group, respectively. Mr Daryl Ng is a standing committee member of the 14th Beijing Municipal Committee, and was a member of the 12th and 13th Beijing Municipal Committee. He is also the president of the Hong Kong United Youth Association and the chairman of the Hong Kong-Asean Foundation. Ms Ng is a member of the 14th Shanghai Municipal Committee, and had also been a member of the 12th to 13th committees, and Mr David Ng is a member of the 13th Fujian Provincial Committee, and had also been a member of the 12th committee. Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam had said in 2024 that Singapore citizens and permanent residents were allowed to be members of such foreign entities but, under Fica, they had to declare such memberships. Singaporeans who join such bodies would need to be discerning as to whether their participation could potentially go against Singapore's interests, Mr Shanmugam said then. Introduced in 2021, Fica arms the Singapore authorities to deal with covert attempts by hostile foreign actors to meddle with domestic politics, such as artificially amplifying certain views to manipulate public opinion on hot-button issues, instilling unrest or undermining confidence in institutions. The law was introduced by MHA amid an increasing prevalence of disinformation campaigns led by state actors and other organisations against targeted countries. Under Fica, PSPs can include political office-holders, MPs, and election candidates and their election agents. Other individuals or groups may also be designated politically significant if the authorities assess that their activities are directed towards a political end, and that it is in the public interest that countermeasures against foreign interference be applied. The law does not target Singaporeans or other local entities that express their views, unless they are being used by foreign entities as proxies for interference. Human rights group Maruah and non-governmental organisation Think Centre – both gazetted as political associations – were designated as PSPs in December 2023 when Fica's provisions against interference via local proxies came into force. Singaporean businessman Philip Chan Man Ping was also designated a politically significant person in February 2024. The National Trades Union Congress was designated a PSP in July 2024. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Sino Group's Robert Ng and children designated politically significant persons under foreign interference law
[SINGAPORE] Sino Group chairman Robert Ng and his three children have been designated as politically significant persons under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Tuesday (Apr 22). The four individuals were issued notices of intended designation on Apr 7 and did not submit any representations against their intended designations. 'The registrar remains of the view that all four individuals should be designated as politically significant persons base on their declared memberships in foreign legislatures or foreign political organisations,' MHA said. 'The designations of the four individuals are not because they have engaged in any egregious activity.' Robert Ng, 72, is the eldest son of the late Ng Teng Fong, founder of Singapore property giant Far East Organization, and brother of Philip Ng, who has retired as chief executive officer of FEO. Robert Ng's children are Daryl Ng, 46; Nikki Ng, 44; and David Ng, 36. All four members of the Ng family have links to the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference – China's top political advisory body. The designation as PSPs means that they will be required to make annual disclosures to the Registrar of Foreign and Political Disclosures on foreign affiliations and migrations benefits as well as political donations of S$10,000 or more that they receive and accept.
