Transformative Justice Collective’s online platforms declared DOLs under POFMA

SINGAPORE: The Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, on Friday (20 December) declared the online platforms of the Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), a group advocating against the death penalty, as “Declared Online Locations” (DOLs) under Section 32 of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 (POFMA).

This declaration will come into effect on 21 December 2024 and will remain in force for two years until 20 December 2026.

As a result, operators of TJC’s online platforms will be barred from receiving financial or other material benefits through its website and social media pages.

An online location, such as a website or webpage, is designated as a DOL if it has disseminated three or more different false statements of fact, which are the subject of active POFMA directions.

Additionally, these false statements must have been communicated on each online location within six months preceding the DOL declaration.

According to MDDI, from August to December 2024, TJC received five POFMA Correction Directions for communicating “multiple falsehoods” across its online platforms, which include its website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) pages.

These falsehoods primarily concerned TJC’s statements regarding the Singapore government’s treatment of prisoners awaiting capital punishment and related matters.

Each of TJC’s aforementioned platforms has met the criteria under POFMA to be declared a DOL, the ministry stated.

While TJC’s platforms can continue to operate, they are now required to display a notice informing viewers that they have been declared a DOL, that multiple falsehoods have been communicated, and that viewers should exercise caution when accessing information on these sites.

As part of the DOL designation, these platforms must also be demonetised, in line with POFMA, which prohibits operators from profiting from the communication of falsehoods. Service providers, including digital advertising bodies, are required to ensure that no paid content is displayed on these platforms within Singapore. Furthermore, individuals and companies must refrain from providing financial support to TJC’s platforms if they are aware that such support could promote the dissemination of falsehoods in Singapore.

Last week, TJC received its fifth POFMA order in as many months after publishing an article alleging that a death row prisoner was scheduled for execution before having the opportunity to submit his clemency petition.

Previous POFMA orders were issued on 8 August, 11 August, 5 October, and 26 November.

MDDI also noted that the owner or operator of TJC’s online platforms, or any individual with editorial control, can apply to the Minister for Digital Development and Information to suspend, modify, or cancel the DOL declaration. If the Minister rejects the application, an appeal can be made to the High Court.

“Members of the public are advised to remain alert to TJC’s history of communicating falsehoods on its online platforms and to fact-check information published on these locations,” said MDDI.

Currently, other entities, such as Gutzy Asia, The Online Citizen Asia (TOCA), and Reform Party leader Kenneth Jeyaretnam’s online platforms, have also been designated as DOLs.