Singapore has recently proposed a new bill aimed at banning the use of deepfake technology in the upcoming general elections. The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) stated in a declaration that the purpose of this bill is to ensure the authenticity and integrity of information during the election process. With the rapid development of Generative AI technology, the risks associated with deepfake content are increasing, and such incidents are becoming increasingly common in scams and extortion cases in Singapore.
Image Source: Picture generated by AI, provided by image licensing service Midjourney
The bill has been introduced in Parliament and will undergo a second review at the next session. The core of the bill is to regulate the creation of false content using both artificial intelligence and non-artificial intelligence technologies, including videos, audio, and images. MDDI noted that while the existing "Online Falsehoods and Manipulations Act" can address rumors on the internet, special provisions against deepfakes during elections are necessary.
If left unchecked, deepfake technology could affect the fairness of Singapore's elections. MDDI emphasized that voters should be able to make informed decisions based on facts, rather than being misled by false information. Therefore, the proposal explicitly states that during the election period, any online advertisements depicting false言行 of candidates will be prohibited. This includes content created using image editing, dubbing, or editing techniques.
Additionally, the bill allows for corrective directives to be issued to individuals and social media platforms that publish false content, requiring them to remove the relevant content. Internet service providers may also be required to block Singaporean users from accessing these contents during the election period. Failure to comply with these directives could result in fines, imprisonment, or both.
Candidates will also have the right to request a review of content that may violate the regulations, and can submit statements to prove the authenticity of their claims. It should be noted that candidates who intentionally submit false or misleading statements will also face fines or other penalties.
Finally, the Singaporean government also plans to develop an industry code of conduct, requiring specific social media platforms to take measures to prevent and combat the spread of false content. Relevant details will be determined in the coming months, and MDDI will engage in discussions with social media operators.
Singapore is expected to hold general elections either early next year or by November 2025, and as early as the legislative elections in April 2024, South Korea has implemented a 90-day ban on the use of deepfakes.
Key Points:
🌐 Singapore plans to legislate a ban on the use of deepfake technology during elections to maintain the authenticity of election information.
🛡️ Any online advertisements falsely depicting the言行 of candidates will be prohibited, and violators may face fines or imprisonment.
📜 Candidates can apply for the review of false content and declare their authenticity; intentionally submitting false information will result in penalties.