Letters | Singapore’s fake news law does not restrict the freedom of speech
- Each time the Singapore government has issued correction notices to online posts, it has detailed the falsehoods and public interest involved
- Singapore is determined to stop xenophobia or nativist sentiments from taking root in local politics
This is untrue. In every case where we have issued correction notices to online posts, we have detailed the falsehoods as well as the public interest involved. Far from being matters of “interpretation of statistics” or “opinion of facts”, the statements corrected were all demonstrably factually false.
In two instances, the falsehoods were clearly intended to stir suspicion and fear of foreigners in Singapore.
You quote Dr Chee Soon Juan of the Singapore Democratic Party as saying that his party would “go to court if we have to”. But it is telling that, so far, neither the SDP nor any of those who have received Pofma directions have appealed the notices or taken the matter to court.
That would settle, simply and conclusively, whether the posts are opinions or facts and, if they are facts, whether they are true or false. Why have they not done this?
