Singapore
Monday 24.5.2021 Singapore - Latest Developments -
Singapore continues to stifle fundamental freedoms despite UN human rights review
In recent months, Singapore has continued to attack fundamental freedoms and use laws against critics and human rights defenders despite facing a UN review of its rights record. It has continued to wield repressive laws such as the Public Order Act and defamation provisions against human rights defenders, activists and journalists. It has also continued to criminalise individuals organising peaceful protests. Singapore has dropped two places in the Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index. Most recently, it issued a warning around an event discussing LGBTQI+ issues. Read more
Wednesday 3.2.2021 Singapore - Latest Developments -
Singapore targets peaceful protesters and continues judicial harassment of critics
In recent months the Singaporean authorities have continued to use the restrictive Public Order Act to charge human rights activist Jolovan Wham, arrest LGBT activists and warn social media users against peacefully protesting. It has also continued to harass independent news outlet New Naratif and to prosecute critics for defamation. Read more
Thursday 24.9.2020 Singapore - Latest Developments -
Singapore government continues to harass its critics as share of popular vote falls
In recent months, the authorities have continued to use the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) against its online critics. It is also continuing its harassment of critical news site New Naratif for allegedly breaking its restrictive election laws. Human rights defender Jolovan Whan spent 10 days in jail for holding a public discussion, while a group of Myanmar nationals are being investigated for holding a peaceful protest. NGOs are also calling for better protection of migrant workers. Read more
Wednesday 24.6.2020 Singapore - Latest Developments -
Civic space restrictions continue unabated in Singapore despite COVID-19 pandemic, as election looms
In the past few months, Singapore has continued to crack down on lone protesters, sustained its use of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) to restrict freedom of expression online and harassed individuals under Singapore’s contempt of court law Read more
Monday 24.2.2020 Singapore - Latest Developments -
Singapore ramping up use of ‘fake news’ law against critics ahead of elections
Over the last few months, Singapore has been ramping up its use of the ‘Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act’ (POFMA) law against opposition groups, critical online media and a Malaysia human rights group. The Public Order law continues to be used to criminalise peaceful protest. Legal challenges to decriminalise gay sex are ongoing. Read more
Friday 27.9.2019 Singapore - Latest Developments -
Singapore authorities threaten editor with libel and smear critical online news sites
The Singapore government has continued to take action to target the media, activists and others for criticising the government. An independent news website The Online Citizen (TOC) is being forced to take down a critical article, online news sites have been smeared as ‘advancing foreign interests’ while a human rights lawyer is being targeted for his anti-death penalty advocacy. Read more
Thursday 9.5.2019 Singapore - Latest Developments -
Singapore parliament passes ‘Online Falsehoods Bill’ despite civil society concerns
The ‘Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill’ to combat fake news was submitted to parliament in April 2019 and has been tabled for a second reading in May despite concerns it could stifle freedom of expression. Activist Jolovan Wham was sentenced to a fine or days in prison, in February 2019 for organising an ‘illegal assembly’ and for contempt of court in April 2019. Singapore has remained ranked at a dismal 151st spot out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index released in April 2019 Read more
Monday 4.2.2019 Singapore - Latest Developments -
Increasing use of judicial system in Singapore to silence critics
In January 2019, Jolovan Wham, a human rights defender was found guilty by the Singapore District Court for organising an ‘illegal assembly without a police permit’ in violation of the Public Order Act, and for refusing to sign a police statement Read more
Wednesday 21.11.2018 Singapore - Latest Developments -
Singapore cracks down on critical news websites to silence dissent
In November 2018, Singapore blocked a critical news website and is investigating another on charges of defamation. Read more
Monday 24.9.2018 Singapore - Latest Developments -
Fake news law proposal, another tool to crackdown on critics
In September 2018, a parliamentary Select Committee on” deliberate online falsehoods” made 22 recommendations to halt the viral spread of fake news including the adoption of laws Read more
