A Blog by Jonathan Low

 

Dec 2, 2019

Facebook Bows To Singapore Law, Issues Disclaimer Acknowledging Untrue Content

This is the first time Facebook has bowed to specific legislated governmental authority with regard to the content on its site.

While some express concern that this could lead to a reduction in 'free expression,' others counter that the social media giant has become such a vast source of disinformation that any reduction in content under its auspices is a net positive. JL

Cat Zakrzewski reports in the Washington Post:

“Facebook is legally required to tell you that the Singapore government says this post has false information,” said a disclaimer accompanying the post that the Singapore government ordered posted. The government ordered Facebook to run the disclaimer on a post from a fringe news site which contained accusations about the arrest of an alleged whistleblower the government denies happened. Singapore's law allows government ministers to order tech companies to issue correction notices or remove material that officials say is false. "With huge, onerous fines and the possibility of prison time, it's hard for any company to not comply”
Facebook users in Singapore spotted a correction on the social network over the weekend as the company for the first time complied with a controversial local law aimed at curbing misinformation. 
“Facebook is legally required to tell you that the Singapore government says this post has false information,” said a disclaimer accompanying the post that the Singapore government ordered the social network to post, according to the Wall Street Journal.
It’s the first time an American tech company is known to have complied with the country's Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation law, which took effect in October. Singapore's law is one of the most aggressive statutes drafted to date as governments around the world step up their regulation of tech giants. It allows government ministers to order tech companies to issue correction notices or remove material that officials say is false. But critics are concerned the law could open the door to broad government censorship. 
“Singapore's law is designed specifically to put Internet companies like Facebook in a headlock to comply with these rights abusing edicts,” Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director, told me. "With huge, onerous fines and the possibility of even prison time, it's going to be hard for any company to not comply”
The Singapore government ordered Facebook on Friday to run the disclaimer on a post from the fringe news site States Times Review, which contained accusations about the arrest of an alleged whistleblower that the Singapore government denies ever happened. The ministers initially ordered Facebook user Alex Tan, who runs the State Times Review, to run a correction on the post. But Tan, who does not live in Singapore and says he is an Australian citizen, refused to do so, according to a Reuters report. The Singapore government is now investigating Tan. So Facebook posted a disclaimer instead.
The Facebook correction is just the latest flashpoint in an ongoing debate about the law. Government officials say it's a key line of defense against misinformation and interference in elections, but critics worry this could just be the beginning of a flood of government requests that could have a chilling effect on online free expression. They expect it's only a matter of time before other companies receive similar orders. 
"Singapore is thorough when it comes to abusing the right of free expression, so I expect we'll see notices required by other U.S. tech firms like Twitter and Google if the [States] Times Review follows through and posts its content on other platforms,” Robertson said. "It was ill-advised for these U.S. tech companies to establish such a massive, on the ground presence in Singapore, and the government is going to use that against them."
Facebook cautioned the Singapore government to take a measured approach as the government begins enforcing the new law.
“As it is early days of the law coming into effect, we hope the Singapore Government’s assurances that it will not impact free expression will lead to a measured and transparent approach to implementation,” Facebook spokesman Andy Stone said in a statement.
Facebook is confronting the order as its chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has made a major push for free speech in Washington with the company confronting widespread criticism for not doing enough to limit the spread of falsehoods and hate on its service. Robertson noted Facebook took steps to signal it doesn't support Singapore's law when it issued its
disclaimer.
"By phrasing the correction the way it did, putting it only on the post that is the subject of Singapore's action and ensuring the correction notice is only seen by those in Singapore, Facebook is doing the legal minimum and signaling it is not supportive of Singapore's requirement but it has no other choice," Robertson said.

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