§ 7 — Communication of false statements of fact in Singapore

7.—(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 is likely to —(i)

be prejudicial to the security of Singapore or any part of Singapore;

(ii)

be prejudicial to public health, public safety, public tranquillity or public finances;

(iii)

be prejudicial to the friendly relations of Singapore with other countries;

(iv)

influence the outcome of an election to the office of President, a general election of Members of Parliament, a by‑election of a Member of Parliament, or a referendum;

(v)

incite feelings of enmity, hatred or ill‑will between different groups of persons; or

(vi)

diminish public confidence in the performance of any duty or function of, or in the exercise of any power by, the Government, an Organ of State, a statutory board, or a part of the Government, an Organ of State or a statutory board.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —(a)

in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both; or

(b)

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

(3) Where an inauthentic online account or a bot is used —(a)

to communicate in Singapore the statement mentioned in subsection (1); and

(b)

for the purpose of accelerating such communication,

the person who is guilty of an offence under that subsection shall be liable on conviction —

(c)

in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both; or

(d)

in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $1 million.

(4) Subsection (1) does not apply to the doing of any act for the purpose of, or that is incidental to, the provision of —(a)

an internet intermediary service;

(b)

a telecommunication service;

(c)

a service of giving the public access to the internet; or

(d)

a computing resource service.

—(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 is likely to —(i)

be prejudicial to the security of Singapore or any part of Singapore;

(ii)

be prejudicial to public health, public safety, public tranquillity or public finances;

(iii)

be prejudicial to the friendly relations of Singapore with other countries;

(iv)

influence the outcome of an election to the office of President, a general election of Members of Parliament, a by‑election of a Member of Parliament, or a referendum;

(v)

incite feelings of enmity, hatred or ill‑will between different groups of persons; or

(vi)

diminish public confidence in the performance of any duty or function of, or in the exercise of any power by, the Government, an Organ of State, a statutory board, or a part of the Government, an Organ of State or a statutory board.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —(a)

in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both; or

(b)

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

(3) Where an inauthentic online account or a bot is used —(a)

to communicate in Singapore the statement mentioned in subsection (1); and

(b)

for the purpose of accelerating such communication,

the person who is guilty of an offence under that subsection shall be liable on conviction —

(c)

in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both; or

(d)

in any other case, to a fine not exceeding $1 million.

(4) Subsection (1) does not apply to the doing of any act for the purpose of, or that is incidental to, the provision of —(a)

an internet intermediary service;

(b)

a telecommunication service;

(c)

a service of giving the public access to the internet; or

(d)

a computing resource service.