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Singapore Government Tests Out Its Fake News Law Against An Opposition Party Leader

Singapore Government Tests Out Its Fake News Law Against An Opposition Party Leader

5 years ago
Anonymous $6AJGTL-6_8

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20191125/17321343457/singapore-government-tests-out-fake-news-law-against-opposition-party-leader.shtml

Singapore's new "fake news" law has been deployed for the first time. The law the government is using to expand domestic surveillance and minimize dissent is definitely doing the latter. Bhavan Jaipragas reports the initial recipient of a "fake news" citation is none other than opposition leader Brad Bowyer.

The supposedly "fake" news Bowyer posted to Facebook has been subjected to government scrutiny. The government's official rebuttal website -- unbelievably named "Factually" -- performs a point-by-point debunking of Bowyer's claims using its own set of facts. This should have been enough. The Singaporean government wields a great deal of power. This site proves the government doesn't need a fake news law, and yet it has one anyway, presumably because it provides so many side benefits.