One day after the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods submitted its recommendations were submitted to Parliament, Singapore's government has announced that it accepts them in-principle.

Earlier on Thursday, the Committee released a 317-page report, providing 22 recommendations to deal with deliberate online falsehoods.

In a joint statement from the Ministries of Communications & Information and Law released about two hours after the report was made public, the government said it would study the report closely and work with stakeholders to implement "the non-legislative and legislative measures" over the next few months.

"Comprehensive and thoughtful"

The government commended the Committee on its "comprehensive and thoughtful" report.

It acknowledged the serious challenges and risks posed by online falsehoods, including how it can harm national security and undermine a nation’s sovereignty, adding that "Singapore is not immune" to the threat.

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Here is the statement in full:

"Government Accepts In-Principle Select Committee’s Recommendation For Multi-Pronged Response To Tackle Deliberate Online Falsehoods

On 19 September 2018, the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods – Causes, Consequences and Countermeasures submitted its report to Parliament on the Committee’s findings and recommendations.

The Government commends the Committee on its comprehensive and thoughtful report. The Government acknowledges the findings of the Committee on the serious challenges and real risks posed by deliberate online falsehoods to the international community, including how online falsehoods can harm national security and undermine a nation’s sovereignty. They could affect a country’s social cohesion, incite public unrest and violence, and cause undue public alarm. The Committee has made clear that Singapore is not immune to this grave threat.

The Government accepts in-principle the Select Committee’s recommendation for a multi-pronged response to tackle the challenges and risks posed by deliberate online falsehoods. The Government will study the Committee’s report closely and work with stakeholders to roll out the non-legislative and legislative measures recommended by the Committee over the next few months. These measures will be geared towards

(i) nurturing an informed public,

(ii) reinforcing social cohesion and trust,

(iii) promoting fact-checking,

(iv) disrupting online falsehoods, and

(v) dealing with threats to national security and sovereignty.

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION

MINISTRY OF LAW"

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