Countering misinformation requires both laws and access to trusted news sources: Josephine Teo

Laws against fake news and manipulated content during elections will continue to be essential in safeguarding Singaporeans against information threats, but by themselves they are not enough to push back against misinformation, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said on July 16.

Instead, the Republic must try to prevent “cracks in our infrastructure of fact”, which pave the way for rogue actors to dominate its media and information landscape, as has happened elsewhere, said Mrs Teo.

That is why the Government has stepped in to support public service media, she added, which ensures that Singaporeans have continued access to trusted news sources, and to uphold the integrity of the city-state’s infospace.

“Our long-term goal remains unchanged, and that is to nurture a resilient information ecosystem – one where truth can stand on its own, and public trust is anchored in an informed, engaged and discerning citizenry,” she said at the Singapore Press Club Awards 2025 held at Pan Pacific Singapore.

These efforts to counter misinformation are crucial because Singapore, as a diverse and open society, will always be susceptible to the dangers of misinformation, she said.

Mrs Teo cited examples from the 2020 General Election, when there were falsehoods on projected population figures and Covid-19 testing of foreign workers; and the 2023 Presidential Election, when there was a false claim that the Government could trace how individuals voted and penalise them for their choices.

Such attempts at misinformation could be addressed “to some extent” with the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), which came into force in 2019.

This is as Pofma does not generally take a falsehood out of circulation but requires that a correction notice be carried alongside it, which means people can continue to believe the falsehood despite it being called out.

Lies also tend to travel faster than the truth, she added. “We are realistic that a factual correction does not reach everyone who had seen the falsehood.”

The risks during the recent May 3 general election were much greater with the availability of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, she noted.

A compressed election timeline – there were nine days of campaigning during GE2025 – meant that the window to react was extremely narrow, said Mrs Teo.

“We therefore needed to be absolutely clear what was permitted and what was not, and who was accountable for validating the suspected content,” she added.

In October 2024, the authorities put in new safeguards when election laws were amended.

The Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act, or Eliona, prohibits digitally generated or manipulated election-related content that realistically misrepresents a candidate’s speech or actions during the election period.

Candidates have to declare whether content featuring them was true or false, and a wrongful declaration could have led to the result of their election being voided.

Thankfully, GE2025 did not see a surge in egregious misinformation or malicious synthetic content, said Mrs Teo. Neither Pofma nor Eliona was invoked during the recent election.

She added that Singapore is fortunate that its public service media remain trusted institutions, with the recent Reuters Digital News Report having found that 75 per cent of respondents trusted The Straits Times, while 74 per cent trusted CNA.

“These are outstanding achievements, especially when compared against the global average trust in media, which stands at just around 40 per cent,” she noted.

Going forward, Mrs Teo said public service media has to continue developing the right talent and instincts to provide quality journalistic content for Singaporeans.

“Content is still key. Information is the currency of the industry, and your insight is what sets you apart from the rest. This is also your mission and duty to your audiences,” she said to a room of over 240 guests, including journalists past and present.

Media outlets here must also keep pace with technology and the changing preferences of audiences by investing in new capabilities, adopting new processes and creating new products.

Mrs Teo cited SPH Media’s in-house multimedia facility Studio+65, which allows for virtual production, audiovisual storytelling and digital content creation.

Mediacorp has also deployed AI in its newsrooms, automating translation and subtitling processes, she noted.

In her speech, Mrs Teo spotlighted some award winners for innovating and finding new ways of bringing important stories to readers.

They included ST senior correspondent Stephanie Yeo, who won a health journalism award for her well-researched reports on women’s health issues that raised awareness of conditions such as endometriosis and menopause and their available treatment options.

Endometriosis is a condition whereby tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside of the womb.

Mrs Teo said public service media in Singapore has defied the odds and avoided the fates of many of its international counterparts, and that generations of journalists played an important role in fostering a thriving and vibrant media ecosystem here.

“It is fair to say that journalism has never been an easy job, and it has become only harder in recent decades. But you have soldiered on with a tireless commitment to excellence,” she said.

“Your dedication to the craft has been instrumental in upholding truth and trust in Singapore’s information space, shaping an informed audience and a stronger Singapore.”

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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