On September 9, 2024, Singapore’s Parliament introduced a new Bill aimed at tackling the issue of digitally manipulated content, including deepfakes, during elections. The proposed legislation, known as the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill, seeks to address both AI-generated and manually edited content that inaccurately depicts political candidates. The Bill is designed to enhance the existing regulatory framework by providing specific measures to manage the proliferation of misleading digital content during the electoral process.
Under the new Bill, candidates will have the ability to request a review of online content that misrepresents them. The Returning Officer will be empowered to issue corrective directives, which could include removing the offending content or restricting access to it from Singaporean voters during the election period. This measure aims to ensure that voters have access to accurate information and are protected from potentially deceptive digital manipulations.
Violations of the new regulations could result in significant penalties. Individuals found guilty of publishing prohibited content could face fines of up to S$1,000 or imprisonment for up to a year, or both. Social media platforms that fail to comply with the Bill’s requirements may be fined up to S$1 million. This approach reflects a growing global trend to address the impact of digital misinformation and safeguard the integrity of democratic processes.
The Bill is set to be debated in Parliament and, if passed, will amend the Parliamentary Elections Act and the Presidential Elections Act to include these new safeguards. This legislative effort is part of Singapore’s broader strategy to combat misinformation and ensure fair elections. The move underscores the country’s commitment to maintaining electoral integrity in the face of evolving digital threats, as it prepares for its next general election, which must be held by November 2025.
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