This Act is the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021 and comes into operation on a date that the Minister appoints by notification in the Gazette.
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In Force
Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021
An Act to counteract foreign interference in the public interest, to repeal the Political Donations Act (Chapter 236 of the 2001 Revised Edition) and to make consequential and related amendments to certain other Acts.
Sections (127)
Marginal notes shown beside each section number. Select a section to read its full text.
The purposes of this Act are to protect the public interest by counteracting acts of foreign interference through —(a) countermeasures aimed at such acts by electronic communications activity; and (b) countermeasures aimed at pre‑empting or
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“a point” includes a mobile or potentially mobile point, whether on land, underground, in the atmosphere, underwater or anywhere else; “access”, in relation to communications activity,
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“foreign business” means an entity —(a) that —(i) is constituted or organised under a law of a foreign country, even if registered under any written law; or (ii) has its principal place of
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, a person undertakes an activity or engages in conduct on behalf of a foreign principal if —(a) the person undertakes the activity or engages in that conduct —(i) under an arrangement w
In this Act, “foreign interference” —(a) means interference that is undertaken by or on behalf of —(i) a foreign principal; or (ii) another person acting on behalf of a foreign principal; and (b) includes any activity undertaken or conduct
For the purposes of this Act and without limiting the generality of the expression, it is in the public interest to do anything if the doing of that thing is necessary or expedient —(a) in the interest of the security of Singapore or any pa
For the purposes of this Act, an activity or a conduct is directed towards a political end in Singapore if a purpose of the activity or conduct (whether or not there are other purposes) is any of the following purposes or a combination of t
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person undertakes an activity or engages in conduct for the purpose of influencing or seeking to influence a Singapore governmental decision if any purpose of the activity or conduct is to influence one o
(1) In this Act, a person undertakes electronic communications activity in relation to any information or material if the person communicates or distributes the information or material, or something that contains the information or material
(1) For the purposes of this Act, information or material is provided on a social media service or relevant electronic service, or provided using an internet access service, if the information or material is accessible to, or delivered to,
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person publishes in Singapore any information or material if the person —(a) includes the information or material in a newspaper, magazine, leaflet, ticket or other document that is available, or distribu
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“app distribution service” means a service that enables end‑users physically present in Singapore —(a) to download an app that facilitates the posting of information or material on a s
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“Part 4 politically significant entity” means an entity who is designated under section 47(1) as a politically significant person; “Part 4 politically significant person” means any of the
(1) For the purposes of this Act, the value of any donation or benefit which is a gift to a person is the market value of the property in question.(2) For the purposes of this Act, where any donation or benefit, being money or property, is
In this Act, the purpose of an activity or a conduct may be determined by having regard to any one or more of the following:(a) the intention of any person on whose behalf the activity is undertaken or the conduct is engaged in, as the case
(1) A person (Y) commits an offence if —(a) Y undertakes electronic communications activity that results in or involves publishing in Singapore any information or material; (b) Y undertakes the electronic communications activity on behalf o
(1) A person (Z) commits an offence if —(a) Z undertakes electronic communications activity that results in or involves publishing in Singapore information or material; (b) Z undertakes the electronic communications activity on behalf of —(
(1) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person engages in conduct; and (b) the person does so with the intention of preparing for, or planning, the commission of an offence under section 17 or 18. (2) Subsection (1) applies —(a) whether
(1) The Minister may authorise the competent authority to give one or more Part 3 directions as specified by the Minister in the authorisation where, in the opinion of the Minister —(a) there is undertaking of online communications activity
(1) The Minister may authorise the competent authority to give an anticipatory direction where the Minister —(a) suspects or has reason to believe that a person is engaging in conduct —(i) wholly or partly in Singapore; (ii) wholly or partl
(1) The Minister may at any time, on his or her own initiative —(a) cancel any authorisation made under section 20(1), 21(1) or 23(3)(b) or (c); or (b) substitute any authorisation made under section 20(1), 21(1) or 23(3)(b) or (c) with ano
(1) Where any Part 3 direction is given by the competent authority pursuant to an authorisation under section 20(1), 21(1) or 22(1)(b), the person to whom the direction is given may apply to the Minister for reconsideration of the authorisa
(1) The Minister may declare an online location with a Singapore link as a proscribed online location if a Part 3 direction (except a technical assistance direction or an app removal direction) is given in relation to any information or mat
(1) The Minister may at any time, on his or her own initiative —(a) revoke any declaration made under section 24(1); or (b) substitute any declaration made under section 24(1) or 26(3)(b) or (c) with another declaration that the Minister mi
(1) After an online location with a Singapore link is declared under section 24 or 25(1)(b) as a proscribed online location, any proprietor of that online location may apply to the Minister for a reconsideration of the declaration. (2) An a
(1) Where a declaration under section 24, 25(1)(b) or 26(3)(b) or (c) is revoked under this Act, the competent authority must give notice of the revocation —(a) in the same manner in which the notice of the making of the declaration was fir
To avoid doubt, sections 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 apply —(a) whether or not an offence under section 17, 18, 19, 39 or 40 is committed; (b) whether or not a person engages in the conduct in preparation for, or planning, a specific offe
The Part 3 directions and the persons to whom they may be given are in the table below:Item Direction Recipient may be 1. Stop communication (end‑user) direction A particular person, or particular end‑user of a social media service or relev
A stop communication (end‑user) direction may require the particular person or particular end‑user to whom it is given to do one or more of the following within the time specified in the direction:(a) to take all reasonable steps to ensure
A disabling direction may require a person who is the provider of a social media service, or a relevant electronic service, by means of which covered information or material identified in the direction is or has been published in Singapore,
(1) A must‑carry direction may be a Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 or Class 4 must‑carry direction, or a remedial must‑carry direction.(2) A must‑carry direction may require a person to whom it is given to take all reasonable steps, to do all or
(1) An access blocking direction may be a Class 1 access blocking direction or a Class 2 access blocking direction.(2) An access blocking direction may require a provider of a social media service or relevant electronic service or an intern
An account restriction direction may require the provider of a social media service or relevant electronic service to take all reasonable steps, within the time specified in the direction, to terminate or suspend any functionality of the so
(1) A service restriction direction may require a provider of a social media service or relevant electronic service or an internet access service to whom it is given to take all reasonable steps to do one or more of the following within the
A technical assistance direction may require a person to whom the direction is given to do one or more of the following within the time specified in the direction, in relation to all or any of the person’s relevant activities:(a) to provide
(1) An app removal direction may require a person to whom the direction is given to —(a) stop enabling end‑users of the app distribution service and physically present in Singapore to download, using that service, a particular app that is s
(1) A disgorgement direction may require a person to whom the direction is given to do either of the following, within the time specified in the direction, with respect to covered information or material published in Singapore by or on beha
(1) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person is a proprietor of a proscribed online location, whether or not in the course of business; and (b) the person invites, solicits or otherwise procures the giving of any benefit —(i) for, or
(1) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person, whether in or outside Singapore, expends or applies any property knowing or having reason to believe that the expenditure or application supports, helps or promotes the publishing in Singa
(1) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person has an advertising dealing with a proprietor of an online location; (b) the online location becomes a proscribed online location with a Singapore link; and (c) the person does not take meas
(1) A Part 3 direction may be given to the person or persons mentioned respectively for the direction individually or as a class.(2) A Part 3 direction is binding on —(a) the person to whom it is addressed; and (b) if applicable, the person
(1) A Part 3 direction that is addressed to a person is sufficiently served if it is —(a) delivered personally to the person by a competent authority; or (b) served in the manner prescribed in section 121 or in any other appropriate manner.
(1) If the Minister is satisfied that a provider of a social media service, a relevant electronic service or an internet access service does not comply with a Part 3 direction, the Minister may direct a competent authority —(a) to prepare a
(1) A person commits an offence if the person —(a) is given a Part 3 direction; and (b) without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the direction whether in or outside Singapore. (2) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection
(1) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person discloses information without the prior approval of the competent authority; (b) the person is or was —(i) a person to whom a technical assistance direction under this Part is given; or (ii
(1) The competent authority may designate a relevant entity to be a Part 4 politically significant entity if —(a) the activities of the relevant entity are directed in part towards a political end in Singapore within the meaning of section
(1) The competent authority may designate a relevant individual to be a politically significant person if —(a) any of the following circumstances exists: (i) the relevant individual is a member of a foreign legislature or a foreign politica
(1) Before the competent authority, on its own volition, designates a relevant entity or relevant individual under section 47(1) or 48(1), the competent authority must, unless the competent authority considers it not practicable or desirabl
(1) Without limiting section 2, this Part establishes a transparent system for donations for political purposes by creating certainty about who is making a political donation and by requiring the donor to be properly identified.(2) To avoid
(1) In this Act, “political donation”, in relation to a candidate at an election or the election agent of a candidate, means any of the following which is made to or for the benefit of a candidate (whether before or after he or she becomes
(1) Despite section 51, the following are not political donations:(a) any lawful transmission by a licensed broadcaster, free of charge, of a party political broadcast required under a condition of its licence; (b) any postage‑free election
(1) In this Act, a “reportable political donation” is —(a) in the case of disclosure under section 62 by a politically significant person — a political donation of or exceeding $10,000 (or a higher amount prescribed by Regulations in substi
(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), a political donation is accepted —(a) by a candidate if it is received and retained by the candidate, or his or her election agent, for the purposes of the candidate’s election; (b) by an election age
(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires —“early initial election” means the first election after the date this Part comes into force where the writ for the election is issued not more than 12 months after that date; “permiss
Subject to this Act, a politically significant person must not accept any political donation if it is offered by a person (called in this section the donor) who, at the time of its acceptance by the politically significant person, the polit
Subject to this Act, each of the following politically significant persons must not accept any political donation that is an anonymous donation:(a) a politically significant person excluding a Part 4 politically significant person; (b) a Pa
(1) Despite section 57, a politically significant person may accept —(a) during the initial relevant period for that politically significant person; and (b) during each subsequent relevant period for that politically significant person, ano
(1) Subject to this Act, where an anonymous political donation is offered to a politically significant person, and sections 56 and 57 prohibit the politically significant person from accepting (whether wholly or in part) that donation, the
(1) Where a political donation is received by a politically significant person and it is not immediately decided that the politically significant person should (for whatever reason) refuse the political donation, all reasonable steps must b
(1) Where —(a) any donation is made to a politically significant person; (b) the donation is one which the politically significant person is prohibited from accepting by virtue of section 56, 57 or 58; and (c) the politically significant pe
(1) Subject to this Act, every reportable political donation received and accepted during each reporting period by or on behalf of any politically significant person must be disclosed to a competent authority in accordance with this Divisio
(1) Subject to this Act, disclosure of reportable political donations received and accepted by or on behalf of a politically significant person must be given to a competent authority as follows:(a) for a disclosure of reportable political d
Subject to this Act, the person who is responsible for making a disclosure of reportable political donations as required by section 62 is —(a) for reportable political donations received and accepted by a political party — every responsible
(1) Subject to this Act, every donation report required by section 62 in relation to a politically significant person must be accompanied by a declaration —(a) made by every person who is, under section 64, responsible for making disclosure
(1) Subject to this Act, a politically significant person who is —(a) a political party; (b) a candidate; (c) an election agent of a candidate; (d) a political office holder; (e) a Member of Parliament (whether or not a political office hol
(1) A competent authority may give a directive to a Part 4 politically significant person requiring the Part 4 politically significant person to do all or any of the following:(a) to not accept any political donation from a citizen of Singa
A competent authority may give a directive to a Part 4 politically significant person to require the Part 4 politically significant person to not accept any anonymous donation in excess of the applicable cap for anonymous donations mentione
(1) A competent authority may give a directive to a Part 4 politically significant person to require the Part 4 politically significant person to establish and maintain, in accordance with section 66, a political donations fund for all poli
(1) Subject to this Act, a person (not being a politically significant person) who in any single year makes one or more political donations —(a) all of which are accepted by or on behalf of any one of the following:(i) a political party; (i
(1) A competent authority may give a directive to a Part 4 politically significant entity declaring that section 70 applies to donors making political donations to that Part 4 politically significant entity.(2) In addition to sections 89 an
(1) For the purposes of this Act, where any person (called in this section the principal donor) causes an amount (called in this section the principal donation) to be received by a politically significant person by way of a political donati
(1) Where any donation report or declaration which is required by section 62 or 65 to be given to the competent authority is not given within the time delimited under section 63, then the following persons shall each be guilty of an offence
(1) Where in any donation report or declaration which is required by section 62 or 65 to be given to the competent authority in relation to a politically significant person, there is —(a) any information or a statement that is false or misl
(1) Where a person enters into, or knowingly does any act in furtherance of, any arrangement which facilitates or is likely to facilitate, whether by means of any concealment or disguise or otherwise, the making of donations to a politicall
(1) Subject to this Act, a politically significant person must disclose to a competent authority in accordance with this Division every reportable arrangement to which the politically significant person is party at any time during a reporti
(1) Subject to subsection (2), disclosure of every reportable arrangement to which a politically significant person is party during a reporting period must be given to a competent authority —(a) in relation to a disclosure of arrangements o
(1) A reportable arrangement to which a politically significant person is party is an arrangement —(a) the politically significant person enters into or has with a foreign principal; and (b) under which the politically significant person —(
(1) An individual who is a citizen of Singapore (and whether or not resident in Singapore) must, within the prescribed time, give the competent authority a written declaration if the individual —(a) is, on the appointed day, a member of a f
(1) This Division applies only to the following persons:(a) a politically significant person; (b) a person who is not a politically significant person but is —(i) authorised by a permit under section 21 of the Newspaper and Printing Presses
(1) A transparency directive under this section may be given by a competent authority only to a person to whom this Division applies.(2) A transparency directive may require the person to whom it is given to take, so far as is reasonably pr
For the purposes of section 81, a political matter has a foreign link if —(a) any author of the political matter is a foreigner; or (b) any person for whom or at whose direction the political matter is placed (for consideration) for publica
(1) A directive under this section may be given by a competent authority only to any Part 4 politically significant entity.(2) A competent authority may give a directive to a Part 4 politically significant entity prohibiting the Part 4 poli
(1) A directive under this section may be given by a competent authority to any politically significant person.(2) A directive under this section may require a politically significant person given the directive to end, within the period spe
(1) A directive under this section may be given by a competent authority only to a Part 4 politically significant person.(2) A competent authority may give a directive to a Part 4 politically significant person either —(a) prohibiting the p
(1) Where any foreign affiliations report or declaration which is required by section 76 to be given to the competent authority is not so given within the time delimited under section 77, then the following persons shall each be guilty of a
(1) Where, in any foreign affiliations report, foreign volunteers report or declaration which is required by this Part to be given to the competent authority in relation to a politically significant person, there is —(a) any information or
Unless expressly provided otherwise, a competent authority may give —(a) a prohibited donor directive to a Part 4 politically significant person; (b) an anonymous donations directive to a Part 4 politically significant person; (c) a politic
(1) A directive mentioned in section 88 (each called a directive under Part 5 or 6) is binding on the person to whom it is addressed.(2) A directive under Part 5 or 6 must be in writing. (3) A directive under Part 5 or 6 must state —(a) the
(1) A competent authority may give a politically significant person any one or more directives under Part 5 or 6.(2) In making a directive under Part 5 or 6, it is not necessary for the competent authority to give any person who may be affe
(1) Where a person to whom a directive under Part 5 or 6 is given, without reasonable excuse, contravenes the directive —(a) the responsible officers of a political party or Part 4 politically significant entity given the directive; or (b)
(1) Subject to subsection (2) and section 98(1), the following persons in the table below may, on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, appeal to a Reviewing Tribunal in accordance with this Part against the appealable decision specifie
A person —(a) who is designated a Part 4 politically significant entity or politically significant person under section 47(1) or 48(1); (b) whose application to cancel the person’s designation as a Part 4 politically significant entity or p
(1) One or more bodies each called a Reviewing Tribunal is established by this section.(2) Every Reviewing Tribunal consists of 3 individuals, each of whom is appointed by the President on the advice of the Cabinet subject to subsections (3
(1) The Minister may pay to the members of a Reviewing Tribunal out of moneys provided by Parliament such remuneration or allowances as the Minister may, with the approval of the President, fix.(2) The remuneration and other terms of servic
(1) All expenses of every Reviewing Tribunal are to be defrayed out of money provided by Parliament.(2) The Minister must appoint a Secretary to the Reviewing Tribunals and such other public officers as are necessary for a Reviewing Tribuna
(1) It is the function and duty of every Reviewing Tribunal to consider and determine any appeal made under section 92 and served on the Secretary to the Reviewing Tribunals —(a) by a person who is given a Part 3 direction and who may appea
(1) Except where a Reviewing Tribunal, having regard to all the circumstances, is satisfied that it is equitable to do so, the Reviewing Tribunal must not consider or determine any appeal against —(a) an authorisation by the Minister made u
(1) Rules may be made by the Minister to prescribe the practice and procedure to be followed on, or in connection with, the hearing or consideration of any proceedings or appeal (including, where applicable, the mode and burden of proof and
(1) An appeal against an appealable decision described in section 93 may only be made to the Minister within one month after the appellant is notified of that decision (called the first appeal period) or such longer period as the Minister m
(1) It is the function and duty of the Minister to consider and determine an appeal made to the Minister against any appealable decision mentioned in section 93.(2) However, the Minister is not under any duty to hear, consider or determine
(1) The Minister may appoint an advisory committee comprising individuals with suitable experience to provide advice to the Minister with regard to the performance of any of his or her functions in relation to any appeal under section 93.(2
An appealable decision mentioned in section 92 or 93 takes effect despite any appeal against the decision and remains in effect until the decision is reversed on appeal.
(1) Every determination, order and other decision of a Reviewing Tribunal, the Minister, or the alternate authority mentioned in section 106, made or purportedly made under this Act —(a) is final; and (b) is not to be challenged, appealed a
(1) The Minister may appoint —(a) a public sector officer to be the competent authority for the administration of this Act and the Regulations generally; or (b) one or more public sector officers to be each a competent authority responsible
(1) The powers of the Minister under Part 3 cease to be exercisable by the Minister during any of the following periods:(a) an election period; (b) between the day a writ of election is issued under section 24 of the Parliamentary Elections
(1) A competent authority may, in relation to any provision of this Act or the Regulations that the competent authority is responsible to administer, appoint as authorised officers for the purposes of that provision —(a) from among public o
(1) A competent authority may by written notice require any person (whether in or outside Singapore) to provide, within a period or at intervals specified in the notice, and in such form and manner as may be specified in the notice, all doc
(1) A person commits an offence if —(a) the person gives information or material or produces a document to a competent authority; (b) the person does so in response to a notice given to the person under section 108; (c) either —(i) the info
(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of a corporation in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that —(a) an officer, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that c
(1) Where, in a proceeding for an offence under this Act, it is necessary to prove the state of mind of an unincorporated association or a partnership in relation to a particular conduct, evidence that —(a) an employee or agent of the uninc
(1) Every offence as follows is arrestable and is non‑bailable for the purposes of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010:(a) an offence in Part 2 or 3; (b) an abetment, or a conspiracy or an attempt to commit an offence mentioned in paragraph (a
Despite the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, a District Court or a Magistrate’s Court has jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act and has power to impose the full punishment for any such offence.
(1) The competent authority may compound any offence under this Act or the Regulations prescribed as being a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum not exceeding the lower
(1) Sections 17(1), 18(1), 19(1), 45, 108(5) and 109(1) and (3) each extend to a person who undertakes electronic communications activity or engages in any conduct that constitutes an offence described in the respective section —(a) wholly
Without limiting sections 49 and 71(2), the competent authority must prepare a notice informing about every Part 3 direction (except a technical assistance direction) given, every designation made under Part 4, or every directive given unde
(1) To avoid doubt, nothing in this Act —(a) affects a police officer’s powers or duties under any other provision of this Act, the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 or other written law; or (b) derogates from any of the following:(i) the Broadc
The giving of a direction under Part 3 in relation to any information or material does not affect —(a) any power or right of any person to take any action under any other law in relation to the information or material; or (b) the power of t
(1) No civil or criminal liability is incurred by the person or an officer, employee or agent of the person, for doing or omitting to do any act, if the act is done or omitted to be done with reasonable care and in good faith and for the pu
(1) A person is exempt from this Act in relation to any activity undertaken by the person as follows:(a) a communication made in proceedings that are a matter of public record to a committee of the Parliament or committee of Parliament, or
(1) A document that is permitted or required by this Act to be served on a person may be served as described in this section.(2) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on an individual may be served —(a) by giving it to t
(1) Subject to subsection (5), the Minister may make Regulations necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Regulations may make provision for —(a) an elec
The Political Donations Act 2000 is repealed.
(1) Section 2(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 is amended by inserting, immediately after the definition of “Parliament”, the following definition:“ “political donation certificate” means a political donation certificate issued un
(1) Section 2(1) of the Presidential Elections Act 1991 is amended by inserting, immediately after the definition of “overseas polling station”, the following definition:“ “political donation certificate” means a political donation certific
The Societies Act 1966 is amended —(a) by inserting, immediately before the words “includes any” in the definition of “political association” in section 2, the words “means a political party and”; (b) by deleting the words “the national int
(1) Despite section 123, every organisation that is, immediately before the appointed day, declared, by order in the Gazette, as a political association under the repealed Act is deemed —(a) as designated, with effect from the appointed day
127 sections
Data from Singapore Statutes Online (sso.agc.gov.sg). Not affiliated with any government agency.
Cite this Act
Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021 (Singapore Statutes Online). Retrieved via LawPlayer, https://lawplayer.com/sg/act/FICA2021 (accessed 2026-07-18)
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (sso.agc.gov.sg), © Singapore Government
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