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← Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019

Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 s 7

s 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.

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Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. Read the official text ↗

Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.

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