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regular-article-logo Sunday, 24 November 2024

Singapore passes law to tackle foreign interference

The small and open city-state, which says it is vulnerable to foreign meddling, targeted fake news with a far-reaching law in 2019

Reuters Singapore Published 06.10.21, 12:05 AM
 The bill, formally known as the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act (FICA), was passed late on Monday with 75 members voting in favour, 11 Opposition members objecting and two abstaining, local media reported.

The bill, formally known as the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act (FICA), was passed late on Monday with 75 members voting in favour, 11 Opposition members objecting and two abstaining, local media reported. Shutterstock

Singapore’s parliament has approved a law that gives broad powers to the government to deal with foreign interference that has sparked concern from the Opposition and experts about its wide scope and limits on judicial review.

The small and open city-state, which says it is vulnerable to foreign meddling, targeted fake news with a far-reaching law in 2019, and joins nations such as Australia that have passed laws in recent years to deter foreign interference.

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The bill, formally known as the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act (FICA), was passed late on Monday with 75 members voting in favour, 11 Opposition members objecting and two abstaining, local media reported.

Among the measures, FICA allows authorities to compel internet, social media service providers and website operators to provide user information, block content and remove applications.

Those deemed or designated as “politically significant persons” under the law will have to comply with strict rules relating to donations and declare their links to foreign entities.

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