Singapore's new law to combat "fake news" came into effect Wednesday despite criticism from tech giants and activists, who labelled the tough rules a "chilling" attempt to stifle dissent.
If an action is judged to be malicious and damaging to Singapore's interests, companies could be hit with fines of up to Sg$1 million , while individuals could face jail terms of up to 10 years. Activists fear the legislation could also be used to crack down on dissent in the run-up to a general election in Singapore, expected within months, and there are concerns it could erode academic freedoms.
After the law was passed in May, Google said it was concerned the legislation will "hurt innovation and the growth of the digital information ecosystem."Critics are especially concerned it will be up to authorities alone to judge what is "fake news", but the government insists any decision can be challenged in the courts.
“We share the common objective of wanting to allow people to engage on social media platforms... in order to have that contest of ideas," he said, in an interview with CNBC.
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