The Quiet Crackdown on Online Speech in Southeast Asia The recent news of Singapore's proposed amendments to its Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) has sparked concern about governments regulating online speech.
On July 30, 2026, the government announced plans to expand POFMA to include social media influencers and online platforms, introducing new penalties for spreading "false information" online.
Some hail the move as a necessary measure to combat misinformation and protect national security.