SINGAPORE: Singapore on Monday (Sep 9) proposed a law to ban deepfakes and other digitally manipulated content of candidates during elections. Introduced by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill would introduce safeguards against digitally generated or manipulated content during elections. This includes artificial intelligence-generated misinformation, commonly known as deepfakes.
It comes amid growing concerns about malicious deepfakes around the world. Singapore has also seen more of such content, including those used for scams and extortion. Singapore's next General Election must be held by November 2025.
WHAT DOES THE BILL COVER? If passed, the Bill would prohibit during elections the publication of digitally generated or manipulated content that realistically depicts a candidate saying or doing something that they did not say or do. This prohibition will only apply to online election advertising that depicts people who are running as candidates. It would take effect once the writ of election is issued and until the close of polling, as the content published during this period can have a material impact and influence on voters’ behaviour, said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI).
The prohibition would apply if three conditions are fulfilled: If the content fulfils all three conditions, it would be a criminal offence to publish it as well as to.