On Wednesday, Singapore enacted legislation giving the government the authority to ask Facebook, TikTok, and other social media sites to remove “egregious content” such as messages encouraging violence against oneself, sexual exploitation, terrorism, and hatred.
In the city-state, where rights organizations have charged the government with using legislation to restrict free expression, the law increases the regulation of social media.
If they don’t comply, social media companies might be fined up to Sg$1.0 million ($715,000).
Singapore implemented a law prohibiting internet lies in 2019, which the government claimed was intended to combat misinformation but was criticized as limiting by political activists and tech firms.
The new law gives the watchdog Infocomm Media Development Authority the authority to require sites, like Instagram and YouTube, to remove “egregious” content.
This includes material that could jeopardize racial and religious peace as well as those which promote violence, self-harm, suicide, and child sexual exploitation.
The IMDA has the authority to require internet service providers to deny access to customers in Singapore in addition to imposing fines.
Social media companies didn’t respond right away.
The new law, according to Communications and Information Minister Josephine Teo, is intended to fill in any gaps not already covered by existing laws.
She gave the example of a 14-year-old British girl who committed suicide after seeing such posts.
According to accounts, users have unintentionally passed away while imitating films of physically impossible exploits, Teo stated.
Users are now more likely to see this damaging content on social media feeds that are “pushed via algorithms,” according to the speaker, and it spreads quickly online.
No matter where the content is created or housed, Teo added, “We must be able to deal with dangerous internet content that is available to Singapore citizens.”
