New Singapore Measure Tightens Foreign Contact
Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act called a “legal monstrosity
By: Andy Wong Ming Jun
The Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act (FICA), which comes into full effect in Singapore at the end of the year, marks a significant attempt to muzzle Singaporeans and permanent residents, say press and human rights critics and opposition politicians. Heavy fines and jail terms are threatened against those even deemed to be “preparing or planning” to publish forbidden information online without declaring foreign involvement. The Singaporean government will also receive unprecedented powers of scrutiny and restrictions on the financial affairs of targeted individuals and entities.
The Paris-based press organization Reporters Without Borders called the measure a “legal monstrosity” that, under the guise of defending national sovereignty, “will enable the government to designate any independent media outlet as a foreign agent and to censor its content.” It has also been condemned internationally by the International Federation of Journalists, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, and others and locally by the Workers Party and Maruah, the Working Group for ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism Singapore, and many others privately.
Originally ratified in October 2021, the law has been partly in effect since July 7 2022, targeting what the government labels “hostile information campaigns”. The remaining measures, to be introduced on December 29, target what the government deems “foreign interference via local proxies” by giving it powers to not only designate local individuals and organizations as potential targets of foreign influence but to demand designated entities disclose their personal wealth and income sources as well as relevant particulars of foreign individuals or organizations “for whom or at whose direction the article or program is published.”…