SINGAPORE, Oct 5 (BNA) The Singaporean parliament has approved a law giving the government broad powers to deal with foreign interference, which has alarmed the opposition and experts about its broad scope and limitations on judicial review.
The small and open city-state, which it says is vulnerable to foreign interference, targeted fake news with a far-reaching law in 2019, joining countries like Australia and Russia that have enacted laws in recent years to deter foreign interference.
Reuters reported that the bill, known officially as the Foreign Countermeasures to Intervention Act (FICA), was approved late Monday, with 75 members voting in favour, 11 opposition members opposed, and two abstaining.
Among the measures, FICA allows authorities to force internet, social media service providers and website operators to provide user information, block content, and remove apps.
People who are considered or are classified as “Political Important Persons” by law will have to comply with strict rules regarding donations and publicize their ties to foreign entities.
In place of the court, an independent court, headed by a judge, will hear appeals against the minister’s decisions, a move the government says is necessary to protect national security.
Court decisions will be final.
The government said FICA does not cover building overseas partnerships, soliciting offshore companies, communicating with foreigners, obtaining donations or those discussing policies or political matters affecting their business with foreign colleagues or business partners, or supporting charities.
“As long as it is done in an open and transparent manner and is not part of an attempt to manipulate our political discourse or undermine the public interest such as security,” K. Shanmugam, the parliament’s home affairs minister, said.
Nor will it affect Singaporeans who express their views or engage in advocacy. The Department of Home Affairs also earlier said it would not apply to foreign individuals or publications “who report on or comment on Singapore policy, in an open, transparent and attribution-able manner”.
But some critics say its broad language risks taking over even legitimate activities, while the rights group Reporters Without Borders has said the law could trap independent media.
Experts and opposition parties in Singapore have called for narrower executive powers and more oversight through the judiciary.
Eugene Tan, a professor of law at Singapore Management University, said the law was passed without promoting “restrictive checks and balances, in particular judicial review”. “While the assurances were given, they could have been expressed unambiguously through legislative notation.”
However, Shanmgham said the bill represented “the best balance…between dealing with risks and providing checks against abuse.”
HF