Regulating online hate speech: The Singapore experiment

• Main Author: CHEN, Siyuan
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2023
• Subjects: Online hate speech; fake news; Singapore; Asian Studies; Communication Technology and New Media; Science and Technology Policy
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/4362; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sol_research/article/6320/viewcontent/RegulatingOnlineHateSpeech_av.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

In Singapore, the introduction of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 (POFMA) generated considerable debate and feedback. One of the main concerns was whether the law would unduly restrict the freedom of expression. In focusing on the provisions of POFMA that could possibly apply to hate speech, this paper situates the criticisms within the larger framework of international human rights law and international practices and proposes some ways forward to improve the regulatory framework for online hate speech.