Facebook has included a correction notice in its post about which Singapore’s government mentioned that it contains false information. It is for the very the first time when Facebook issued one such notice which falls under the city-state’s controversial “fake news” law. Singapore claimed that the post, made by fringe news site States Times Review (STR), is containing “scurrilous accusations”.
The note which was issued by this social media giant said that “is legally required to tell you that the Singapore government says this post has false information”. The addition of Facebook is visible only to the social media users of Singapore.
In one of the statements emailed to the BBC, Facebook mentioned that it applied this label to the post “determined by the Singapore government to contain false information”, as needed under the law of “fake news”.
The company – having its Asia headquarters located at the city-state – commented that it hoped for assurances that the law is in no way going to create an impact on the expression. Adding that it “will lead to a measured and transparent approach to implementation”.
How come we get down here?
The Review post of the States Times is having accusations about the arrest of the claimed whistleblower as well as election-rigging. The government gave the statement no one got arrested, and also accused the STR of creating “scurrilous accusations against the elections department, the prime minister, and the election process in Singapore“.
Authorities gave orders to the editor Alex Tan to make the required correction on the post. But here this Australian citizen completely refused, and stated that “not comply with any order from a foreign government”.
Afterward, Authorities the intimated-on Facebook to “publish a correction notice” based on the line with the law of “fake news,” which was passed earlier at the beginning of this year.
What exactly it means by ‘fake news’ law?
The law, also famous as the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation bill, came in practice in October. It gave scope to the government to give orders to online platforms for removing and correcting what appeared as false statements and are entirely “against the public interest”.
If a person found guilty for doing this in Singapore, he will face a hefty fine in addition to facing a prison sentence for five years.
This law is also banning the use of any fake accounts or even bots for spreading fake news – if the same is done, then that will attract penalties of the amount up to $1m (£563,000, $733,700) besides a jail term which can range up to 10 years.
Is there anyone who got affected so far because of this?
Singapore’s government introduced the law for the very first time this Monday for ordering the opposition politician Brad Bowyer. He was required to make corrections on a Facebook post, which was questioning the level of independence the state investment funds are having.
Mr. Bowyer posts a new comment stating he was “not against being asked to make clarifications or corrections, especially if it is in the public interest”. But later on, he clarified his earlier statement, “Although I have no problems in following the law…that does not mean that I agree with the position they are taking or admit to any false statements on my part.”
He further added that under this law, he is supposed to post the required correction notice, “regardless of whether I appeal”.
