Minister of Law and Home Affairs saying that there is no civil liability for sharing of fake news.

On Thursday (9 May), tech and lifestyle site Vulcan Post posted a video where they had invited the Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam to answer some questions asked by netizens regarding the controversial Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (POFMA).

One of the questions that was raised was whether an individual will go to jail if he or she shares a fake news.

As a reply, Mr Shanmugam clearly said that if a person receives a news and forward it in good faith, then there is no problem with it at all.

“There is no criminal liability, there is not civil liability. At most, you will receive a correction. So you don’t even need to worry about jail and so one,” he said.

The Minister added that the Bill will only affect those who deliberately create fake news – either to make money or to cause trouble. In fact, he reassures that citizens do not have to be worried about going behind bars if they’re merely sharing or forwarding fake news.

Based on Mr Shanmugam’s explanation, it brings us to a very important question. If sharing fake news is not wrong, then why is veteran blogger Leong Sze Hian being sued by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a civil suit for just sharing an article on Facebook without adding any comments?

Last November, the blogger shared a link of an article that had been published by The Coverage on his Facebook page, without comment or amendment. The article claimed that editor-in-chief of investigative journalism platform Sarawak Report Ms Clare Rewcastle had mentioned Singapore as “one of the key investigation targets, alongside Switzerland and United States” in the 1MDB corruption scandal during an interview with Malaysian media. The article was shared over 20,000 times largely by Singaporeans and Malaysians.

However, just three days later, Mr Leong removed his post after reading a notice from the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) demanding that the post be taken down.

Although he complied to the request and removed his post, the blogger received a letter from PM Lee’s lawyer alleging that the Facebook post had been published with malicious intent and that both the post and the article “contains allegations that are highly defamatory to (their) client”. As such, on 4 December 2018, PM Lee filed a defamation suit against him.

According to how the Law Minister explained the Bill, it clearly shows that Mr Leong should not be getting into any trouble for sharing an article, but PM Lee still went ahead and sued him.
 
Looking at this example, could the Law Minister be openly disagreeing with PM Lee’s legal approach?
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

Woman attempted suicide multiple times in bid to give family her CPF monies and insurance payout

“I am very depressed and suicidal due to my illness and also…

5 out of 9 new NMPs list MM Lee as their “favourite politician”

NMPs gush and heap praises on Minister Mentor Lee. Andrew loh.

解封第二阶段鸡只也出来溜达 “闯”地铁站被阻

第二阶段解封开跑,除了各处购物商场出现人潮外,鸡只也不遑多让,到欧南园地铁站(Outram Park MRT)搭地铁啦! 在多个社交媒体上,有网友表示,今天(6月19日)在欧南园地铁站看到两只鸡只在地铁站出现,工作人员赶紧驱赶。 该地铁站设置在地下三层,不禁让网民好奇,这两只鸡到底是如何下到地铁站的。 在脸书群组ROADS.sg的帖文下,就有不少民众猜测鸡只到底要去哪里,有者认为是趁着解封时期去逛街或访友,有者说它们是为了被丢弃的鸡蛋报仇,而因为没有戴口罩,所以被工作人员驱赶。 然而较为了解当地情况的网友则表示,这些鸡只是来自警察广东民大厦,在艾弗顿园附近,“经常看到它们带着可爱的小鸡走来走去”。

【选举】可能解封第二或第三阶段举行 何时大选都要遵守公共卫生要求

昨日(15日),政府跨部门防疫工作小组今日(15日)宣布,第二阶段解封将在本月19日开始。国家发展部长黄循财表示,当局乃根据卫生情况、防疫能力和经济社会安全等,决定是否进入第二阶段。 他坦言,大选可能在第二或第三阶段召开,目前没人知道确切时机。但若举行选举,选举局一定会解释相关防疫措施和竞选准则。 早前,选举局已公布有关选民投票的安全措施之修订条规。然而,是否有群众大会、会见选民等活动,选举局表示需视届时冠病疫情而定。 贸工部长陈振声甚至曾指出,选举局不能“过早”宣布与下一次大选有关的规则和规定,因为这些可能会因局势而转变。一切取决于总理何时宣布选举,选举局需确保所有措施,能符合当时的情况。 卫生部医药服务总监麦锡威则指出,选举局届时将向卫生部咨询公共安全要求。