 Welcome my viewers, in this part of the program I would take up the new law approved recently in Singapore. The protection from online falsehoods and manipulation bill will come into force shortly in Singapore. Freedom of speech and expression in context of digital age had remained largely unregulated around the world. With the ensuing disturbing events in the recent past in different parts of the world, originating from digital show grounds and platforms, a need is felt all around to regulate the digital media and communication, rising thereof. But are the nations incapacitating the human and fundamental rights of freedom and expression under the garb of regulating the digital trail? Recently Singapore has approved a contentious anti-fake news law which gives the government over-drawn powers to police online platforms as well as private discussions and chat groups. The Singapore government has stressed the law would not target views and opinions but only lies that could prove detrimental to the public interest. The Singaporean law minister briefed parliament recently thereby highlighting that the free speech should not be affected by this bill and that the whole objective of the new law being intended at preventing falsehoods, trolls and fake accounts. The government can now direct the online platforms to remove what it opines as false statements which are against public interest and instead direct them to take corrective measures by posting the real version of the news or information. It is claimed that the new law protects citizens from fabricated and fake news whereas the detractors of the new law assert that this intimidates civil liberties and even freedom of speech and expression. The law comes with certain loopholes as I analyzed as it is uncertain how it could be enforced in some eventualities for example content or chats in encrypted apps. Talking about the penal part of the law, a person found guilty of breaching the provisions of this law meaning spreading falsehood etc. could face severe penalty and jail term up to 5 years. The law also bars and prohibits the use of fake accounts or bots to spread fake news and anyone found guilty of doing that could face severe penalties to the extent of 1 million Singaporean dollars and a jail term of 10 years. Social media and news websites will be specifically monitored under the law. Conceivably one of the most contentious features of this law is that it could be enforced to closed private chat groups and social media groups including apps with end to end encryption where only recipients and senders can access chats and messages. Obviously apps like WhatsApp, Line, VChat, messaging service of Facebook, Telegram etc. would be affected. Though the new law provides that false statements cannot be transmitted to users in Singapore either through internet or text messages or multimedia messages. But one is yet to comprehend as to how the enforcement authorities would penetrate into the encrypted apps. Human rights experts have branded the acts of policing private chats as insane and a real threat to the freedom of expression. A law which is highly draconian giving absolute unfettered power to the authorities. Whereas the Singapore government claims that country needs strict laws given the possibilities of fake news inciting racial and religious disarmony and that the government needs power to act to swiftly halt the viral spread of falsehoods. It has argued that the law does contain several precautions against abuse of power including remedies of judicial reviews of government orders. Fake news or hate speeches have become a matter of concern across the globe. Several nations have initiated such legislation or executive orders and Singapore has joined that club. Well, thank you viewers. I will see you next week with a new law or policy analysis.