I haven't been able to find the actual text of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill yet, but the Ministry of Home Affairs has put out a press release with some info about how the proposed law is supposed to work.
A thread:
FICA is ostensibly meant to address foreign meddling through hostile information campaigns. Like POFMA, FICA will give the government the power to issue directions.
Not yet clear how the bill will define whether a Singaporean is an "agent of a foreign principal". https://t.co/vih2AcmoWs
These directions can include Technical Assistance Directions, which will require social media platforms, internet access services, or admins of social media/websites, to give information to the authorities for investigations into whether there's a "foreign principal" behind it.
Other directions have to do with stopping communications or blocking content from end users in Singapore. "Relevant electronic services" includes chat apps and search engines. https://t.co/hpQsGT6DmC
There's also the App Removal Direction, which can stop apps from being downloaded in Singapore, if those apps are known to be used by foreign principals to conduct hostile information campaigns.
(Again, not yet clear how they are going to define/determine such things.)
FICA will also allow the government to issue Disgorgement Directions, which will order individuals/locally registered entities who have published "harmful online content" (defined how?) to return $/material support to either the "foreign principal" or to the authorities.
Apart from hostile information campaigns, FICA will also zero in on "Politically Significant Persons". This includes political parties, political office holders, MPs, NCMPs, NMPs, the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition, plus election candidates and their agents.
But FICA will also allow authorities appointed by the Minister for Home Affairs to *designate* groups or individuals who don't fall into the above-mentioned categories as "Politically Significant Persons". Additional requirements can be imposed on these people/groups. https://t.co/0TlXiQjfT3
Unhappy about being designated a "Politically Significant Person"? You can appeal the decision to the authorities who made the designation in the first place, or to the Minister who gave them that power. No mention of being able to challenge this in court. https://t.co/Sm21vGCHYI
In fact, the press release says that appeals against directions related to alleged hostile information campaigns *will not* be heard in open court. There will be a tribunal chaired by a High Court judge + two persons outside of the government. https://t.co/AokhO6gAEU
As mentioned, I haven't seen the actual text of the bill yet (it'll hopefully be made available online soon), so there are lots of gaps that need to be filled in with regard to details and definitions.
FICA was introduced in Parliament today. Given how things go in Singapore, it will likely be up for its second and third readings quite quickly. So if this is something you care about, then you'll have to pay attention and bring up your questions/comments/concerns publicly ASAP!
Here's the text of the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill, happy reading: https://t.co/qywqy7oD37
This is how the bill defines engaging in conduct on behalf of a foreign principal. If I'm understanding it correctly, this could apply to all sorts of legitimate activity undertaken by civil society organisations and independent media outlets, just 'cos they got a non-SG grant. https://t.co/HQFtT5BRGH
This needs to also be read in context with the fact that there are very few (as in, almost none) local grants or philanthropy available for independent civil society/media work, especially if said work is critical of the ruling party or government policies.
Also, how broad is "in collaboration"? Remember @MFAsg got upset about local NGO @oogachaga co-hosting a webinar with the US embassy @RedWhiteBlueDot. https://t.co/Te9WkuvXl3 Does this mean that such activity will be considered conducted on behalf of a foreign principal?
Sections 17 & 18 of FICA are about “clandestine” communication of info on behalf of a “foreign principal”, but can someone please explain what is going on with Section 19, which criminalises the intent of prepping to do a Thing even if you don’t actually end up doing the Thing https://t.co/zI6BxEY2aE
