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 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.