The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act
("POFMA") was passed by Parliament on 8 May 2019 after a
vigorous debate in Parliament. This article summarises the ambit of
POFMA, the powers it confers on the government, the offences and
penalties, and the avenues for appeal.
Background
Internet-enabled messaging platforms and social media platforms
have allowed news and information to be disseminated with
unprecedented speed. These platforms have also facilitated the
dissemination of deliberate online falsehoods, colloquially known
as "fake news", which represent a critical threat to the
integrity of our society and our democracy. POFMA was enacted with
the objective of safeguarding Singapore against this threat.
However, it should be noted that while POFMA has been passed by
Parliament, POFMA is not yet in force. More clarity on how POFMA
will work is expected in the coming months when the draft
subsidiary legislation to POFMA is tabled.
