Facebook is annoyed as Singapore government tells it to block pages
Facebook said Monday Singapore’s use of an online misinformation law is “severe” and risks stifling free speech, following the company was again forced to block a page in the city-state.
It was the latest criticism from the tech giant over legislation that empowers ministers to tell internet platforms to place warnings next to posts they deem false and order the blocking of pages.
Fringe political website the National Times Singapore was accused of making false statements via its Facebook page, including a claim that “every criticism” of the federal government had been outlawed beneath the disinformation law.
The website was ordered to erect a banner flagging it was false-but it refused, and Facebook was ordered to block usage of the site’s page in Singapore.
Asked about the government request to block the page, Facebook said the business was “legally compelled” to comply.
But a spokesperson added that “blocking orders such as this are extreme and risk being misused to stifle voices and perspectives on the internet”.
“Freedom of expression is a simple human right, and we work hard to safeguard and defend this important civil liberty all over the world.”
The page was run by anti-government activist Alex Tan, who lives in Australia and has been repeatedly accused of spreading falsehoods on a number of subjects.
Four Facebook pages that he operates have been blocked, according to authorities.
A Singapore government website targeted at debunking untrue information claims that Tan “continues to publish falsehoods that distort the public’s knowledge of the (misinformation) law and how it's been implemented”.
Other tech giants, including Google and Twitter, as well as rights groups have expressed concerns about regulations, which arrived to force in October.
The government’s political opponents also have raised concerns that it's being used to suppress criticism before elections expected within months.
But authorities insist the measure is essential to stop falsehoods from circulating online that could sow divisions in the multi-ethnic, multi-faith country of 5.7 million.
