Action is still waiting to be taken after Singapore’s Parliament introduced the “Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) Amendment Bill,” marking a significant move to curb the spread of manipulated or digitally generated content in online election advertising. The Bill, designated as Bill No. 29/2024, seeks to amend both the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 and the Presidential Elections Act 1991 to ensure a more transparent and trustworthy election environment in the digital age.
The primary goal of this legislation is to prohibit the publication of online election advertising that features digitally altered content, especially content that falsely represents what a candidate has said or done. The amendment is part of Singapore’s broader effort to maintain the integrity of its electoral processes, particularly as AI and digital manipulation technologies evolve and become more accessible.
The bill specifically targets content that is so realistic that the public could be misled into believing that a candidate made a particular statement or performed a specific action during the election period. For example, a manipulated video could falsely depict a candidate endorsing a policy they have never supported, or an AI-generated image could distort the context of a speech.
The law applies to all election advertising published within Singapore during the election period and covers content disseminated through social media, websites, and other online platforms. The bill also grants the Returning Officer the power to issue corrective directions to remove or amend any offending content.
Violations of this new rule could result in significant penalties. Those found guilty of publishing manipulated election content face fines of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both. Notably, social media providers that fail to comply with directives to remove or correct manipulated content could face fines up to $1 million.
There are important exemptions in place. The law does not apply to private, domestic communications between individuals, news published by authorized news agencies, or content that falls under other prescribed regulations.
In addition, the bill allows candidates to request that the Returning Officer issue corrective directions to remove manipulated content or issue clarifications. However, candidates who knowingly make false or misleading declarations to request such directions may themselves face penalties, underscoring the government’s focus on fairness and accountability from all parties.
By prohibiting digitally manipulated content in election advertising, Singapore seeks to protect its electorate from misleading campaigns. The explanatory statement accompanying the bill explicitly mentions the role of generative AI, highlighting it as one of the digital tools capable of creating realistic but false representations of candidates. For instance, AI could be used to edit a candidate’s speech to make it seem like they support a policy they have publicly opposed.
Need Help?
If you’re wondering how Singapore’s AI guidelines, or any other AI strategies and laws worldwide could impact you and your business, don’t hesitate to reach out to BABL AI. Their Audit Experts can address your concerns and questions while offering valuable insights.
