Singapore government enforces 'fake news' law

Monday, 16 December 2019 18:52

A small Singaporean opposition party, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), has been ordered to correct its online posts deemed to be critical of the government.

The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) came into effect in October.

It's been widely condemned by rights groups, Reporters without Borders and Facebook on the grounds that it severely curtails public debate and dissent.

The controversy comes ahead of scheduled parliamentary elections which the ruling People's Action Party is expected to win.

The SDP is to appeal the restrictive order, which the government says is necessary to protect the sensitivities of its mixed ethnic and religious population.

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