Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019)
Singapore's Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, Act 18 of 2019) provides a framework for combating online falsehoods that threaten public interest. POFMA empowers Ministers to issue correction directions (requiring corrections to be published alongside false statements) and stop communication directions. The Act also addresses internet intermediaries and digital advertising. Administered by the POFMA Office under the Ministry of Communications and Information. Notable for its government-directed correction model rather than platform self-regulation.
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Framework Domains (7)
Part 1 — Preliminary
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| MHR-1 | Objects and Definitions |
| MHR-2 | Application and Scope |
| OSA-1 | Objects and Definitions |
| OSA-2 | Scope of Application |
| POFMA-1.1 | Definitions and Interpretation (Sections 2-3) |
| POFMA-1.2 | Application and Scope (Section 4) |
| Sec. 1 | Short Title and Commencement |
| Sec. 2 | Interpretation |
| Sec. 3 | Scope and Application |
| Sec. 6 | Establishment of the Commission |
Part 2 — Offences
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| POFMA-2.1 | Communication of False Statement of Fact (Section 7) |
| POFMA-2.2 | Making Bot for Communication (Section 8) |
| POFMA-2.3 | Providing Service for Falsehoods (Section 9) |
Part 3 — Directions to Individuals and Platforms
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| POFMA-3.1 | Correction Direction (Section 11) |
| POFMA-3.2 | Stop Communication Direction (Section 12) |
| POFMA-3.3 | Targeted Correction Direction (Section 21) |
Part 4 — Directions to Internet Intermediaries
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| POFMA-4.1 | Disabling Direction (Section 22) |
| POFMA-4.2 | General Correction Direction to Intermediary |
Part 5 — Declared Online Locations
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| POFMA-5.1 | Declaration of Online Location (Section 32) |
| POFMA-5.2 | Prohibition on Funding (Section 33) |
| POFMA-5.3 | Obligation to Display Notice (Section 34) |
Part 6 — Inauthentic Accounts and Coordinated Behaviour
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| POFMA-6.1 | Account Restriction Direction (Section 35) |
| POFMA-6.2 | Countering Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour |
Part 7 — Appeals
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| POFMA-7.1 | Application to Minister (Section 19) |
| POFMA-7.2 | Appeal to High Court (Section 17) |
Maps to 526 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019)?
Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) is a compliance framework from Singapore (MCI) with 7 domains and 25 controls. Singapore's Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, Act 18 of 2019) provides a framework for combating online falsehoods that threaten public interest. POFMA empowers Ministers to issue correction directions (requiring corrections to be published alongside false statements) and stop communication directions. The Act also addresses internet intermediaries and digital advertising. Administered by the POFMA Office under the Ministry of Communications and Information. Notable for its government-directed correction model rather than platform self-regulation. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) have?
Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) has 25 controls organised across 7 domains. The largest domains are Part 1 — Preliminary (10 controls), Part 2 — Offences (3 controls), Part 3 — Directions to Individuals and Platforms (3 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) map to?
Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) maps to 526 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are EU Machinery Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1230) (16% coverage), EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR, Regulation 2023/988) (16% coverage), China Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) (16% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) compliance?
Start your Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 25 controls and track your progress.
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