• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Why invoke POFMA when a simple Facebook post will do the trick?

Two contrasting responses from the government to fake news

by ariffinsha
30/01/2020
in Opinion
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0

On 22 January 2020, the Minister of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a Correction Direction under POFMA against The Online Citizen SG (TOC) for reporting about allegations made by Lawyers for Liberty (LfL).

On 25 January 2020, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) posted a clarification on its Facebook Page in response to rumours relating to the coronavirus.

 

Interestingly, ICA did not resort to any measures under POFMA although it could have justifiably done so. In fact, I cannot think of a situation more appropriate for the Minister to exercise his powers under POFMA. After all, it is precisely during times of heightened tension where the spread of fake news (especially news that carries with it the potential to cause panic and alarm) should be curbed.

In relation to the case of TOC, I am informed that the editor had emailed MHA on 16 January to seek clarification on the LFL’s allegations. The MHA had no less than 7 days to respond to TOC’s email. However, the MHA eventually decided to opt to issue a Correction Direction under POFMA instead of simply responding to TOC’s email. I understand that Kirsten Han too sought clarification from MHA. Arguably, a simple response to their emails would have acheived the same effect without having the need to resort to the mechanisms provided for by POFMA.

Contrary to popular belief, a Correction Direction is anything but harmless. Section 32 of POFMA empowers the Government to declare a location to be a “declared online location” if the location is the subject of three or more correction directions.

In other words, three strikes and you’re out. As a declared online location, the Government has the ability to block access to your location, control content and potentially restrict funding.

Therefore, although complying with Correction Direction may seem reasonable, it would most certainly be disconcerting if Ministers resort to the mechanisms provided under POFMA as a first resort whenever an alleged false statement of fact is in circulation.

There is no need to use a sledgehammer to kill a fly. As the ICA has demonstrated last Friday, there is no need to invoke POFMA when a simple press release, Facebook post or email would achieve the same result.

The ICA’s actions serve as evidence that the best antidote against fake news is facts, not the full force of the law.

I hope more Ministries can follow in the footsteps of ICA to exhaust other options available to them to curb the spread of fake news before resorting to POFMA. POFMA should only be used as a tool of last resort by Ministers when other measures have failed or may not be appropriate.

PS. The ICA is under MHA too

(This post originally appeared on Ariffin Sha’s Facebook)

UPDATE (28 January 2020): On the morning of 28 January 2020, a day after I posted the above on Facebook, Hardwarezone was on the receiving end of a CD from the Minister of Health for a post containing false statements of fact about the coronavirus. Although I have some reservations about the issuance of a CD to a host for content uploaded by an anonymous third party, MOH’s actions do not detract from my original point – that it is desirable for Ministers to utilize other means first before resorting to POFMA, especially if the other means can achieve the same effect. MOH had decided to issue a CD only a day after it’s Facebook post and press release. At the time of writing, the ICA has stayed the course by not resorting to POFMA and instead, sticking to press statements and Facebook posts. 

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.
Tags: Ariffin ShaKirsten Hanlawyers for libertyPOFMAterry xu

Related Posts

Lawyers For Liberty: Unacceptable for Malaysia’s new govt to use police powers against PM’s critics
Civil Society

Lawyers For Liberty: Unacceptable for Malaysia’s new govt to use police powers against PM’s critics

30/11/2022
Court Cases

AGC asking for S$20,000 fine in contempt of court charge against Terry Xu for republishing letter by a former PR

29/11/2022
“党籍不会过期失效”  前进党称已就党籍终止知会卡拉
Singapore

Tan Kin Lian asks to be POFMAed over post on SG Govt’s surplus

20/11/2022
Minister of National Development directs Correction Directions to be issued to Yeoh Lam Keong and TOC
Singapore

Minister of National Development directs Correction Directions to be issued to Yeoh Lam Keong and TOC

14/10/2022
Lawyers For Liberty: Contempt of court threat a “disproportionate response” to Malaysian news portal’s article on Changi Prison death row inmates’ landmark lawsuit
Court Cases

Lawyers For Liberty: Contempt of court threat a “disproportionate response” to Malaysian news portal’s article on Changi Prison death row inmates’ landmark lawsuit

03/09/2021
Facebook, Twitter, SPH Magazines issued with POFMA directive over falsehoods on “S’pore variant”
Current Affairs

Minister of Health issues POFMA Correction Notice to Facebook over post about passing of 3-yr-old

15/08/2021
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Rescuers battle cold as Turkey-Syria quake toll hits 5,000

Rescuers battle cold as Turkey-Syria quake toll hits 5,000

07/02/2023
Hazel Poa proposes singles be allowed to buy 3-room HDB flats

Hazel Poa proposes singles be allowed to buy 3-room HDB flats

07/02/2023
Jamus Lim: House prices are too High

Jamus Lim: House prices are too High

07/02/2023
Ministers get away with excuses that ordinary citizens cannot hope to get away with

Ministers get away with excuses that ordinary citizens cannot hope to get away with

07/02/2023
Commemorative coin, exhibitions and various activities to mark 100th anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew’s birth

Commemorative coin, exhibitions and various activities to mark 100th anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew’s birth

07/02/2023
国会内庆妇女节 女议员获赠鲜花

15 companies barred from hiring new foreign employees after serious safety lapse found at worksite

07/02/2023
Why is Gautam Adani’s Indian empire in turmoil?

India’s Adani Enterprises shares rocket 20%, trading suspended

07/02/2023
China’s Baidu says developing AI chatbot

China’s Baidu says developing AI chatbot

07/02/2023

Trending posts

Cognizant India transfers staff to work in Singapore as recently as this year

Local IT grads can’t find jobs while engineers constantly transferred from India to work in SG under CECA

by Correspondent
05/02/2023
108

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
48

...

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

by Correspondent
03/02/2023
26

...

No response from Josephine Teo on whether Mediacorp has been instructed to stop coverage of SMT circulation scandal

No response from Josephine Teo over alleged blackout of coverage by Mediacorp over SMT circulation scandal

by Terry Xu
06/02/2023
12

...

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Japanese-Canadian junior high school girl breaks national record with 3km in 9:02 mins

“I want my normal life back,” Sherry Drury withdraws from National Junior High School Tournament due to overheated public attention

by Yee Loon
06/02/2023
3

...

January 2020
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Dec   Feb »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz