Singapore has proposed new laws to outlaw using digitally manipulated content material, particularly deepfakes, throughout elections.
The brand new authorized steps will safeguard “the integrity and truthfulness of illustration” throughout elections, mentioned the Ministry of Digital Improvement and Info (MDDI) in an announcement on Monday. The proposed invoice was launched in parliament and can be tabled for a second studying on the subsequent sitting.
It goals to offer new laws to safeguard the native inhabitants in opposition to digitally manipulated content material, together with audio, video, and picture generated by synthetic intelligence (AI), in any other case often known as deepfakes.
Developments in generative AI (Gen AI) know-how have opened up alternatives, but in addition current info dangers, with risk actors leveraging it to create and unfold misinformation, MDDI mentioned. It pointed to a rise in malicious deepfakes utilized in scams and extortion in Singapore.
Whereas on-line falsehoods may be handled via the nation’s present Safety from On-line Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, “focused levers” are essential beneath its On-line Election Promoting Act to deal with deepfakes that misrepresent candidates, the ministry mentioned. The latter laws defines any content material accessible on-line that may be “fairly” deemed to advertise or improve the standing of political events or candidates or prejudice the electoral prospects of different political events or candidates.
If left unaddressed, deepfakes can compromise the integrity of Singapore’s electoral course of, MDDI mentioned. It added that voters ought to be capable to make knowledgeable choices primarily based on information, not misinformation.
The proposed legislative measures will prohibit publishing digitally generated or manipulated on-line election promoting that “realistically depicts” candidates saying or doing one thing they didn’t say or do. This contains content material that makes use of each AI and non-AI methods, resembling modifying by way of photograph modifying, dubbing, or splicing.
The brand new measures will apply solely to on-line election promoting that options people operating as candidates within the election.
The proposed laws will enable corrective instructions to be issued to people who publish such content material in addition to social media platforms, to take down offending content material. Directives will also be despatched to web service suppliers to disable entry by Singapore customers to such content material in the course of the election interval.
Failure to adjust to corrective instructions has been deemed an offense and is punishable by a effective, imprisonment, or each if convicted.
The invoice additionally will enable candidates to submit requests for content material to be assessed for potential breach and corrective instructions issued accordingly. Candidates who’ve been misrepresented by such content material could make a declaration to attest to the veracity of their declare, MDDI mentioned.
It is going to be unlawful for candidates to knowingly make false or deceptive declarations of their request on the content material in query, the ministry mentioned. It added {that a} effective or different penalties could also be meted out ought to candidates be discovered to have dedicated such practices.
The Singapore authorities additionally plans to introduce a code of observe mandating particular social media suppliers to implement measures to stop and fight using digitally manipulated content material on their platforms.
Particulars for this can be established within the coming months, with discussions to happen between the regulator and social media operators, MDDI mentioned.
“Past elections, deepfakes and different types of manipulated content material can pose severe hurt to on-line customers,” it mentioned. “Creators and distributors of AI-generated content material have a duty to foster a secure info area, each throughout and outdoors of elections.”
Singapore is anticipated to carry its basic elections early subsequent 12 months or earlier than November 2025.
South Korea adopted a 90-day ban on using deepfakes in political marketing campaign content material for its April 2024 legislative election.
