The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has explicitly labelled Singapore’s Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill dubious and incompatible with worldwide legal principles as far as its present composition and structure is concerned. In its current form, the Bill is viewed as a “real risk” to public interest.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Ministers Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Law Minister K. Shanmugam, and Parliament Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin received an open letter from ICJ’s Legal and Policy Director Ian Seiderman on April 12 on behalf of the Commission.
The letter states, “Its provisions present a real risk that it can be wielded in an arbitrary manner to curtail important discussion of matters of public interest in the public sphere, including content critical of the government.”
“Critical dissent, free exchange and development of opinions, and free access to information are necessary to maintain an informed society and ensure transparency, accountability and informed debate on crucial matters of public interest,” Seiderman highlighted.
The Online Falsehood Bill’s provisions “are likely to be unnecessary and disproportionate in application to legitimate aims of ensuring national security or public order”, he added.
More at https://tinyurI.com/y6jp3efv
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Ministers Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Law Minister K. Shanmugam, and Parliament Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin received an open letter from ICJ’s Legal and Policy Director Ian Seiderman on April 12 on behalf of the Commission.
The letter states, “Its provisions present a real risk that it can be wielded in an arbitrary manner to curtail important discussion of matters of public interest in the public sphere, including content critical of the government.”
“Critical dissent, free exchange and development of opinions, and free access to information are necessary to maintain an informed society and ensure transparency, accountability and informed debate on crucial matters of public interest,” Seiderman highlighted.
The Online Falsehood Bill’s provisions “are likely to be unnecessary and disproportionate in application to legitimate aims of ensuring national security or public order”, he added.
More at https://tinyurI.com/y6jp3efv
