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Singapore's 'fake news' law takes effect as critics sound alarm

17 Comments
By Roslan RAHMAN

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labelled the tough rules a "chilling" attempt to stifle dissent.

The new law will give Singapore's rulers yet another way to stifle dissent.

Troll armies like the Internet Research Agency paid by authoritarian regimes to attack rival states and their democracies spread fake news (e.g. Pizzagate) and alt facts targeting the intellectually vulnerable, including some national leaders. States need to prevent these trolls from spreading fake news intended to harm their democracies.

Fake news needs to be clearly defined. Some leaders and their followers use the term whenever something they disagree with is published. If they, or even posters on this site, call an article fake news they should be required to provide alternate sources showing what they believe is the truth.

If not, they're just trolls, the lowest form of life in media.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

While I understand the reasoning, censorship never works, but rather usually backfires. The more dissent is stifled the more it grows.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

So then the myriad false accusations breathlessly repeated by many western media outlets(Russiagate/Ukrainegate/Steelegate, etc) will be banned as well as the false climate emergency/crisis unless verifiable data is available.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Well psychological targeting by social media firms is to achieve desired behavioral effect from a neutral and even hostile audience, just look at what Cambridge Analytica was doing, and in this psychological warfare anything could be thrown at you. Narrative based lies,deceit,subterfuge (fake news) is one of the primary tool. 

Authoritarian or Democracies, states have no option but to protect themselves, but then the authoritarian states themselves use trolls, and unless they transition to real democracies, will be consumed by the same fake news they subtly propagate.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2198947-uk-wants-to-curb-fake-news-and-cyberbullying-with-new-internet-laws/

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Singapore is very small island, we area a small country of 5.5 million people. It is like a small company where people see each other every day. We cannot afford misunderstandings or gossips by selfish people for their own selfish interests. Such laws are needed as it could rock Singapore's stability. Atleast , we do not jail people and not allow them to see their wife or family or kidnap them after they land their personal jet. Singaporeans are fair people, we communicate.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

How do you define fake news? News which is totally wrong, or news which you don't like?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Hummm! I suppose any bad news about a government is 'fake news' whether it is true or not?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The Australian Government is also trying to pass a law requiring journalists to seek government approval before publishing what the government consider sensitive (embarrassing ) information. Note how they are trying to imprison Julian Assange for publishing embarrassing information regarding war crimes committed by the US,

Freedom of speech is under attack by all Western governments; so much for our democracy.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The greatest purveyors of "fake news" (translation: lies) are politicians and members of government. Churchill, was not lying when he famously said that the first casualty of war was the truth, but he omitted to own up that even in times of peace governments always cover their rear end with lies until kicking and screaming they are forced to cough up the truth. Unsurprisingly, Singapore's hypocritical elite are visibly conspiring to gag any criticism or dissent emanating from below.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So then the myriad false accusations breathlessly repeated by many western media outlets(Russiagate/Ukrainegate/Steelegate, etc) will be banned as well as the false climate emergency/crisis unless verifiable data is available.

I generally think it’s not a good idea to stifle free speech, but if people who make comments like you get blocked then it can’t be all bad.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Singapore is very small island, we area a small country of 5.5 million people. It is like a small company where people see each other every day. We cannot afford misunderstandings or gossips by selfish people for their own selfish interests. Such laws are needed as it could rock Singapore's stability. Atleast , we do not jail people and not allow them to see their wife or family or kidnap them after they land their personal jet. Singaporeans are fair people, we communicate.

“Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Pick your poison, giant corporations with an agenda or the government dictating speech. Either way it’s not a good situation.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Singapore is the most policed state in the "free" world.

Protecting the local tycoons by far worst than in current Hong Kong.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

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