Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019

• Act Code: POFMA2019
• Edition: 2020 Rev Ed
• Commencement: 1 Oct 2019
• Version as at: 1 Aug 2026
• Enacted by: Parliament

Section 1 — Short title

This Act is the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019.

Section 2 — General interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“Account Restriction Direction” means a direction issued under section 40; “appellate court”, in relation to an appeal from a decision of the General Division of the High Court under t

Section 3 — Meaning of “communicate”

(1) In this Act other than in Part 2, a statement or material is communicated in Singapore if it is made available to one or more end‑users in Singapore on or through the internet.(2) In Part 2, a statement is communicated in Singapore if i

Section 4 — Meaning of “in the public interest”

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

Section 5 — Purpose of Act

The purpose of this Act is —(a) to prevent the communication of false statements of fact in Singapore and to enable measures to be taken to counteract the effects of such communication; (b) to suppress the financing, promotion and other sup

Section 6 — Appointment of Competent Authority

(1) For the purposes of this Act, the Minister may appoint as the Competent Authority —(a) a statutory board; or (b) the holder of any office in the service of Government or a statutory board. (2) The Competent Authority must give effect to

Section 7 — Communication of false statements of fact in Singapore

(1) A person must not do any act in or outside Singapore in order to communicate in Singapore a statement knowing or having reason to believe that —(a) it is a false statement of fact; and (b) the communication of the statement in Singapore

Section 8 — Making or altering bots for communication of false statements of fact in Singapore

(1) A person must not, whether in or outside Singapore, make or alter a bot with the intention of —(a) communicating, by means of the bot, a false statement of fact in Singapore; or (b) enabling any other person to communicate, by means of

Section 9 — Providing services for communication of false statements of fact in Singapore

(1) A person who, whether in or outside Singapore, solicits, receives or agrees to receive any financial or other material benefit as an inducement or reward for providing any service, knowing that the service is or will be used in the comm

Section 10 — Conditions for issue of Part 3 Directions

(1) Any Minister may instruct the Competent Authority to issue a Part 3 Direction if all of the following conditions are satisfied:(a) a false statement of fact (called in this Part the subject statement) has been or is being communicated i

Section 11 — Correction Direction

(1) A Correction Direction is one issued to a person who communicated the subject statement in Singapore, requiring the person to communicate in Singapore in the specified form and manner, to a specified person or description of persons (if

Section 12 — Stop Communication Direction

(1) A Stop Communication Direction is one issued to a person who communicated the subject statement in Singapore, requiring the person to stop communicating in Singapore the subject statement by the specified time.(2) A Stop Communication D

Section 13 — Provisions applicable to all Part 3 Directions

(1) A Part 3 Direction may be issued to a person whether the person is in or outside Singapore.(2) A Part 3 Direction may require the person to whom it is issued to do an act in or outside Singapore. (3) A Part 3 Direction must identify the

Section 14 — Service of Part 3 Directions

A Part 3 Direction may be served by such means (including electronic means) as may be prescribed —(a) on the person to whom it is issued; or (b) on a person in Singapore that the person to whom it is issued has appointed to accept service o

Section 15 — Non-compliance with Part 3 Direction an offence

(1) A person to whom a Part 3 Direction is issued and served and who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the Direction whether in or outside Singapore, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —(a) in the

Section 16 — Access blocking order

(1) This section applies where —(a) a person fails to comply with a Part 3 Direction; (b) the subject statement is being communicated in Singapore by the person on an online location; and (c) the Minister is satisfied that one or more end‑u

Section 17 — Appeals to General Division of High Court

(1) A person to whom a Part 3 Direction is issued may appeal to the General Division of the High Court against the Direction.[40/2019] (2) No appeal may be made to the General Division of the High Court by any person unless the person has f

Section 18 — Other causes of action not affected

The issue of a Part 3 Direction in relation to the subject statement does not affect any power or right of any person (including a Minister, the Competent Authority or the Government) to take any action under this Act or any other law in re

Section 19 — Variation or cancellation of Part 3 Direction

(1) The Minister who instructed the Competent Authority to issue a Part 3 Direction may at any time instruct the Competent Authority to vary or cancel the Part 3 Direction, by serving a written notice on the person to whom the Direction is

Section 20 — Conditions for issue of Part 4 Directions

(1) Any Minister may instruct the Competent Authority to issue a Part 4 Direction if all of the following conditions are satisfied:(a) material (called in this Part the subject material) that contains or consists of a false statement of fac

Section 21 — Targeted Correction Direction

(1) A Targeted Correction Direction is one issued to the internet intermediary that provided the internet intermediary service by means of which the subject material has been or is being communicated in Singapore, requiring it to communicat

Section 22 — Disabling Direction

(1) A Disabling Direction is one issued to the internet intermediary that provided the internet intermediary service by means of which the subject material has been or is being communicated in Singapore, requiring it to disable access by en

Section 23 — General Correction Direction

(1) A General Correction Direction is one issued to one of the following persons to carry out an act mentioned in subsection (2):(a) a prescribed internet intermediary; (b) a prescribed holder of a permit under section 21 of the Newspaper a

Section 24 — Correction notices must be easily perceived

(1) A person required by a Targeted Correction Direction, Disabling Direction or General Correction Direction to communicate in Singapore, publish, broadcast, transmit by means of a telecommunication service, or give, a correction notice mu

Section 25 — Provisions applicable to all Part 4 Directions and Remedial Orders

(1) A Part 4 Direction or Remedial Order may be issued to a person whether the person is in or outside Singapore.(2) A Part 4 Direction or Remedial Order may require a person to whom it is issued to do an act in or outside Singapore. (3) A

Section 26 — Service of Part 4 Directions and Remedial Orders

A Part 4 Direction or Remedial Order may be served by such means (including electronic means) as may be prescribed —(a) on the person to whom it is issued; or (b) on a person in Singapore that the person to whom the Part 4 Direction or Reme

Section 27 — Non-compliance with Part 4 Direction or Remedial Order an offence

(1) A person to whom a Part 4 Direction or Remedial Order is issued and served and who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the Direction or Order whether in or outside Singapore, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liabl

Section 28 — Access blocking order

(1) This section applies where —(a) a person that is an internet intermediary fails to comply with a Part 4 Direction or Remedial Order; (b) the subject material is being communicated in Singapore on an online location; and (c) the Minister

Section 29 — Appeals to General Division of High Court

(1) The following persons may appeal to the General Division of the High Court against any Part 4 Direction:(a) the person to whom the Direction is issued; (b) a person who communicated in Singapore the subject material.[40/2019] (2) No app

Section 30 — Other causes of action not affected

The issue of a Part 4 Direction or Remedial Order in relation to any material does not affect any power or right of any person (including a Minister, the Competent Authority or the Government) to take any action under this Act or any other

Section 31 — Variation or cancellation of Part 4 Direction or Remedial Order

(1) The Minister who instructed the Competent Authority to issue a Part 4 Direction or Remedial Order may at any time instruct the Competent Authority to vary or cancel the Part 4 Direction or Remedial Order, by serving a written notice on

Section 32 — Declared online locations

(1) The Minister may declare an online location as a declared online location if all of the following conditions are satisfied:(a) 3 or more different statements that are the subject of one or more active Part 3 Directions or Part 4 Directi

Section 33 — Access blocking order

(1) This section applies where —(a) paid content included on a declared online location is communicated in Singapore after a prescribed period starting on the date the Declaration concerned came into effect; and (b) the Minister is satisfie

Section 34 — Order to internet intermediary to disable access to declared online location

(1) This section applies where —(a) paid content included on a declared online location is communicated in Singapore after a prescribed period starting on the date the Declaration concerned came into effect; (b) the Minister is satisfied th

Section 35 — Appeals to General Division of High Court

(1) The following persons may appeal to the General Division of the High Court against a Declaration:(a) the owner or operator of the declared online location; (b) any person with editorial control over the online location.[40/2019] (2) No

Section 36 — Deriving benefit from operating declared online location

(1) A person who, whether in or outside Singapore, solicits, receives or agrees to receive any financial or other material benefit as an inducement or reward for operating a declared online location shall be guilty of an offence and shall b

Section 37 — Certain persons must not communicate in Singapore paid content on declared online locations, etc.

(1) A service provider must take reasonable steps (both in and outside Singapore) to ensure that after a prescribed period starting on the date the Declaration comes into effect, any paid content that it includes or causes to be included on

Section 38 — Prohibition on providing financial support to declared online locations

(1) A person must not, whether in or outside Singapore, expend or apply any property knowing or having reason to believe that the expenditure or application supports, helps or promotes the communication of false statements of fact in Singap

Section 39 — Sections 36, 37 and 38 have effect despite other laws, etc.

(1) It is not a defence to a charge under section 36, 37 or 38 that the accused is subject to any duty under any written law, any rule of law, any contract or any rule of professional conduct, that prevents the person from complying with th

Section 40 — Account Restriction Direction

(1) If the conditions in subsection (2) are satisfied, any Minister may instruct the Competent Authority to issue a direction to a prescribed internet intermediary requiring it to do one or both of the following:(a) disallow its services fr

Section 41 — Service of Account Restriction Directions

An Account Restriction Direction may be served by such means (including electronic means) as may be prescribed —(a) on the prescribed internet intermediary to whom it is issued; or (b) on a person in Singapore that the prescribed internet i

Section 42 — Non-compliance with Account Restriction Direction an offence

(1) A prescribed internet intermediary to whom an Account Restriction Direction is issued and served, and who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with the Direction whether in or outside Singapore, shall be guilty of an offence and

Section 43 — Access blocking order

(1) This section applies where —(a) an internet intermediary fails to comply with an Account Restriction Direction; (b) either —(i) the subject statement was or is being communicated in Singapore on an online location; or (ii) the subject b

Section 44 — Appeals to General Division of High Court

(1) The following persons may appeal to the General Division of the High Court against an Account Restriction Direction:(a) the prescribed internet intermediary to whom the Direction is issued; (b) the holder of the specified online account

Section 45 — Other causes of action not affected

The issue of a Direction in relation to an inauthentic online account does not affect any power or right of any person (including a Minister, the Competent Authority or the Government) to take any other action under this Act or any other la

Section 46 — Variation or cancellation of Account Restriction Direction

(1) The Minister who instructed the Competent Authority to issue an Account Restriction Direction may at any time instruct the Competent Authority to vary or cancel an Account Restriction Direction, by serving a written notice on the prescr

Section 47 — Prescribed digital advertising intermediary or internet intermediary to disable access in Singapore to certain paid content

(1) A prescribed digital advertising intermediary or prescribed internet intermediary must take reasonable steps (both in and outside Singapore) to ensure that it does not, when acting as a digital advertising intermediary or an internet in

Section 48 — Codes of practice

(1) The Competent Authority may issue one or more codes of practice applicable to one or both of the following:(a) prescribed digital advertising intermediaries or prescribed types of digital advertising intermediaries; (b) prescribed inter

Section 49 — Appeals to Minister

(1) Any digital advertising intermediary or internet intermediary who is aggrieved by anything contained in a code of practice may appeal to the Minister.(2) An appeal under this section —(a) must be in writing; (b) must specify the grounds

Section 50 — Notice requiring compliance

(1) If, whether upon a review of a report given pursuant to a code of practice or otherwise, the Competent Authority is of the opinion that a digital advertising intermediary or an internet intermediary (called in this section the intermedi

Section 51 — Code of practice and section 50 notice have effect despite other laws, etc.

(1) A requirement of a code of practice or a notice under section 50 applicable to a digital advertising intermediary or an internet intermediary (called in this section the intermediary) has effect despite —(a) any duty of confidentiality

Section 52 — Alternate authority for election period

(1) For the purposes of sections 16, 28, 32(1) and (8), 33, 34, 43, 47(2) and 54, a reference to the Minister during an election period is a reference to the alternate authority appointed by the Minister.(2) For the purposes of sections 10,

Section 53 — Alternate authority for other periods

(1) The Minister or any Minister may appoint an alternate authority for such period, other than an election period, as may be specified.(2) Section 52(1) to (4) and (6) applies accordingly as if —(a) every reference to an alternate authorit

Section 54 — Direction to appoint representative to accept service and access blocking order

(1) The Minister may instruct the Competent Authority to direct a person that satisfies such criteria as may be prescribed —(a) to appoint a person in Singapore to accept service of Part 3 Directions, Part 4 Directions, Remedial Orders, Acc

Section 55 — Appointment of authorised officers

(1) The Minister may appoint such number of —(a) police officers; (b) public officers who are not police officers; and (c) employees of any statutory board, as the Minister considers appropriate to be authorised officers to administer this

Section 56 — Powers of enforcement

The Minister may, by written order, authorise an authorised officer to exercise all or any of the powers in relation to police investigations given by the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 as set out in the Schedule, and the provisions of that C

Section 57 — Composition of offences

(1) An authorised officer, authorised in writing by the Minister, may compound any offence under this Act that is prescribed as a compoundable offence by collecting from a person reasonably suspected of having committed the offence a sum no

Section 58 — Offences by corporations

(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

Section 59 — Offences by unincorporated associations or partnerships

(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

Section 60 — Jurisdiction of courts

(1) Where an offence under section 7, 8, 9, 15, 27, 32(6), 34(5), 36, 37, 38, 42, 47 or 50(3) is committed by a person outside Singapore, the person may be dealt with in respect of that offence as if it had been committed within Singapore.(

Section 61 — General exemption

The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any person or class of persons from any provision of this Act.

Section 62 — Regulations

The Minister may make regulations necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.