2-6-2023 (SINGAPORE) Internet access service providers in Singapore have been instructed to block the online publication Asia Sentinel after it failed to comply with a correction direction issued under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), according to the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) on Friday.
The California-based publication was required to publish a correction notice alongside its article from May 24, which the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) claimed contained several false statements.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority has been directed to issue access blocking orders as a result of Asia Sentinel’s non-compliance with the correction direction, as stated in the MCI’s press release.
The correction direction mandated that Asia Sentinel juxtapose the facts with the falsehoods in order for Singaporean readers to assess both versions and form their own conclusions.
“While Asia Sentinel did publish the correction notices, they failed to comply with the requirements of placing the respective correction notices at the top of the article and the top of the main page of the website,” added the MCI.
The access blocking orders require internet access service providers to disable access for Singaporean end-users to the specific online location where the false statements were disseminated.
The access blocking orders will be revoked if Asia Sentinel subsequently complies with the “full requirements” of the correction direction.
Earlier on Friday, the MHA reiterated that Asia Sentinel was not required to remove its May 24 article but only had to publish the correction notice as stipulated.
“If Asia Sentinel truly believes in free speech, it should welcome its readers to peruse both the article and the correction notice, allowing them to decide which is true,” stated the ministry.
According to the MHA, POFMA’s primary method of correcting false information is through a correction notice, which must be displayed in close proximity to the original post along with a link to the government’s clarification.
“This is similar to the right of reply practiced by newspapers and magazines.”
Other recipients of correction directions have complied with similar requirements, noted the ministry.
The MHA further added that if Asia Sentinel fails to comply with the correction direction, the government may have to take “further action.”
A check conducted by CNA on Friday at 3:30 PM revealed that the correction notice on Asia Sentinel’s article was positioned below an editor’s note stating that the online publication “reserves the right to respond to the Singapore government’s demand at a later time” and that “we stand by our story.”
Furthermore, the correction notice was not displayed at the top of the main page of the website.
