Singapore wants to block access to “foreign hostile content” and could implement restrictions such as removing access to apps or forbidding advertisement on publications. The country started working on the law after tensions with Malaysia in 2019.
On September 13, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore introduced the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill for a first reading in Parliament.
The government wants to tackle publications creating “foreign interference” in domestic politics with “hostile information campaigns” and keep an eye on public figures linked to external entities who could act as “local proxies.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore is responsible for national security, civil defense and border control.
Singapore could ask to take down content or remove apps from stores
If passed, the law would give the Minister more control over the content published online and restrict political activities linked to foreign entities or individuals.
It would have the power to require social media platforms, online messaging apps, search engines, internet providers, publishers or website owners to “help the authorities investigate and counter hostile communications activity that is of foreign origin.”
Singaporean authorities could demand social media companies disclose information to “determine if the harmful communications activity is being undertaken by or on behalf of a foreign principal.”
Similar to some of Singapore’s provisions, legislation in India can require platforms to provide the identity of the user behind a message to the authorities. As part of an IT rule to regulate online information, it triggered a lawsuit by WhatsApp because it would force the company to store user data.
In 2020, China passed the Hong Kong National Security Act, a controversial law restricting content that could harm national security, leading to mass street protests.
As a consequence, the tabloid Apple Daily, one of the most popular news media of Hongkongers, was shut down in June 2021 because of “suspected collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security.” The police claimed articles were a conspiracy to “impose sanctions or blockade, or engaging in other hostile activities” against China or Hong Kong.
The statement specifies the provisions would not apply to foreign individuals or foreign publications, nor to Singaporeans expressing their opinions on politics “unless they are agents of a foreign principal.”
Crippling the source of funding
In the Foreign Interference bill, Singapore plans to restrain the possibility of sharing content or becoming viral without detailing the measures to do so. But authorities could stop apps from being downloaded in Singapore.
Moreover, authorities “want to be able to cripple the source of funding for harmful online content that is undertaken by or on behalf of a foreign principal.”
As such, Singapore citizens, regardless of their locations, and Singapore residents would be required to return material or funds used to produce the hostile content to foreign entities or Singaporean authorities.
Advertising on those publications could also be forbidden.
In Hong Kong, the Apple Daily shut down because its financial assets were frozen and as a consequence became unable to operate.
Two years to build the bill
After foreign interference in the United States presidential elections, the United Kingdom referendum on Brexit in 2016 or the French presidential elections in 2017, Singapore started to work on a bill in 2019.
The Minister considers “foreign interference poses a serious threat to [Singapore’s] political sovereignty and national security” and explains Singapore is vulnerable to foreign interference because of its “highly digitally-connected, and diverse society.”
But it also followed tensions between Singapore and Malaysia in 2019. Although the statement doesn’t explicitly mention its northern neighbor, it, however, explains that, during bilateral issues in 2018–2019, Singapore noticed an “abnormal spike in online comments critical of Singapore on social media.” Coming from “anonymous accounts,” they were used to “create an artificial impression of opposition to Singapore’s positions.”
In December 2018, Malaysia claimed to regain airspace and maritime control of Johor, a southern state of Malaysia and neighbor to Singapore. Malaysia used to delegate airspace in southern Johor to Singapore, which therefore provided air traffic control services.
During that time, almost half of the comments related to heavy traffic congestion posted on social media or some “alternative media outlets” came from anonymous accounts, reported Today Online.
The negotiations lasted for several months until the two countries reached an agreement in April 2019.
Singapore was at first part of Malaysia when it was created in 1963 in a union between the Federation of Malaya and former British colonies. But the city became independent only two years later after political and economic disagreements, and racial tensions.
Foreigners forbidden to volunteer for political activities
On top of restricting content, the law would also be stricter towards political figures receiving donations and force them to disclose “affiliation with foreign entities.” It would also prohibit foreigners from volunteering for political activities.
Singapore citizens would need to declare their involvement in foreign political or legislative bodies for the government “to have oversight over such individuals,” stated the MHA.
Singapore is known for its strict policy on freedom of speech and is ranked 160 in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders. The bill is very likely to pass as the ruling party has more than 80% of Parliament seats.
Sources:
- First Reading of Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill, Singapore Government, September 2021, Free access
- Singapore, Malaysia airspace dispute: What we know and timeline, Channel News Asia, 2018, Free access
- S’pore to consider laws to counter foreign interference: Edwin Tong, Today Online, 2019, Free access
- Reporters Without Borders, Free access
