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Singapore considering law to fight cancel culture amid LGBTQ rights debate
- Singapore is seeking to protect residents against online pressure over expressing views on topics including an ongoing debate on LGBTQ rights
- Potential new legislation comes as the government is preparing to repeal a colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men
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Singapore’s Law Minister said cancel culture rules may be included in legislation in the near future as the government looks to protect residents against online pressure over expressing views on topics including an ongoing debate on LGBTQ rights.
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The government is preparing to repeal a colonial-era law that criminalises sex between men while reinforcing traditional definition of marriage between a man and woman, sparking fierce reactions online.
“We should be encouraging people to be able to express their viewpoints on all sides as long as it’s not offensive and doesn’t descend to hate speech,” Law Minister K Shanmugam said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “If we find the right solutions, yes, that should be something that we could see in legislation in the near future.”
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Shanmugam, who was one of Singapore’s top litigators until he became a cabinet minister, said the move toward cancel culture is a concern to the government based on a wide variety of issues aired in the country. Both religious and LGBTQ groups have told the government they have been attacked online on this debate, he added.
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“Religious groups, in particular, feel very put upon because they feel whenever they express their views they are attacked as homophobes,” he said. “So there is a line between expressing your view on religion and becoming homophobic or engaging in hate speech against LGBT groups.”
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