POFMA and selective enforcement: A matter of principle or abuse?
Is POFMA simply a convenient tool wielded to maintain domestic political control while avoiding international confrontations?
POFMA
Kenneth Jeyaretnam receives fifth POFMA order for remarks on government spending and Ridout Road rentals
Under Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s oversight, the POFMA Office instructed Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam to issue a Correction Direction on Thursday.
This action, the fifth this year, addresses his online statements, encompassing government spending, healthcare funds, and allegations about ministers’ bungalow rentals.
Mr Jeyaratnam said he will be responding to the attempts to silence his commentary on crucial Singaporean issues.
Blatant double Standards in POFMA compliance: Disparities and selectivity challenge the ‘Fake News’ law’s credibility
Editorial: The inconsistent application of POFMA, evidenced by disparities in enforcement and apparent selectivity in recent directives against Gutzy.Asia and Singapore Eye, challenges the law’s credibility and necessitates greater transparency in its implementation.
PM Lee emphasizes POFMA as a ‘serious requirement’ to flag falsehood as deemed by PAP Govt
Prime Minister Lee stressed the critical role of POFMA in addressing misinformation. He described it as a “serious requirement,” highlighting its function in flagging online falsehoods and ensuring that people understand the lack of factual basis in such claims, actively disputed by the government.
Is the withdrawal of access blocking direction of East Asia Forum, an example of how Singapore practices “Rule by Law”?
In the recent reversal involving POFMA and the East Asia Forum, Singapore’s legal approach has raised questions. The differential treatment between local and foreign entities, combined with apparent selective enforcement, raises concerns about the nation’s commitment to the rule of law versus the rule by law.
Singapore authorities lift access block on East Asia Forum despite non-compliance of POFMA Correction Direction
The POFMA office revealed on Friday that the Correction Direction issued to East Asia Forum (EAF) under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) has been canceled. Subsequently, the Minister for Communications and Information directed IMDA to lift access blocking orders on EAF’s website.
Under POFMA, Individuals may face fines of up to S$20,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both for non-compliance with a POFMA Correction Direction, while entities could be fined up toS$500,000 for non-compliance.
NUS Asst Prof apologised for POFMA-ed article and retracts it from East Asia Forum
Dr Chan Ying-Kit, author of “A Spate of Scandals Strikes Singapore” on East Asia Forum has retracted his article from the online publication and apologized through Singapore’s TODAY media.
This follows a correction directive from the POFMA office on 13 September, issued under the instruction of Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
East Asia Forum faces access blocking for non-compliance with Singapore’s POFMA correction direction
Following the non-compliance of the Correction Direction by East Asia Forum, the Minister for Communications and Information initiated Access Blocking Orders, restricting Singaporean access to the platform.
Additionally, due to East Asia Forum’s omission on its Facebook post, a Targeted Correction Direction was issued to Meta Platforms, Inc., requiring a correction notice to Singaporean viewers of the post.
K Shanmugam orders POFMA correction direction on Plan B’s podcast featuring “The Messiah”
Minister for Home Affairs and Law, K Shanmugam, issued a “Correction Direction” against Plan B’s podcast featuring ex-hacker “The Messiah.”
The episodes contained statements that the ministries deemed as alleged falsehoods. Corrective notices were mandated on their Spotify and Instagram channels to clarify the government’s stance.
East Asia Forum issued POFMA correction notice over claims on Singapore’s governance
Under instructions from Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore’s POFMA Office issued a correction directive to the East Asia Forum.
This was over “false statements” concerning the independence of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s approach to parliamentarian affairs.