Section 17 — Clandestine foreign interference by electronic communications activity

(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 of —

(i)a foreign principal; or

(ii)another person acting on behalf of a foreign principal;

(c)Y knows or has reason to believe that the electronic communications activity, or the information or material published in Singapore —

(i)is or is likely to be prejudicial to the security of Singapore or any part of Singapore;

(ii)is or is likely to be prejudicial to public health, public safety, public tranquillity or public finances;

(iii)is or is likely to be prejudicial to the friendly relations of Singapore with other countries;

(iv)incites or is likely to incite feelings of enmity, hatred or ill‑will between different groups of people in Singapore which may endanger the public peace and public order of Singapore;

(v)diminishes or is likely to diminish public confidence in the performance of any duty or function of, or in the exercise of any power by, the Government or a public authority, or a part of the Government or public authority; or

(vi)is or is likely to be directed towards a political end in Singapore; and

(d)any part of —

(i)Y’s undertaking on behalf of a person mentioned in paragraph (b); or

(ii)Y’s electronic communications activity, is covert or involves deception.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1) —

(a)Y does not need to have in mind a particular foreign country or foreign principal; and

(b)Y may have in mind more than one foreign country or foreign principal.

(3)A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on conviction —

(a)if the person is an individual, to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or to both; or

(b)in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $500,000.