Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019)

Singapore (MCI)

v2019

10 domains

19 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.

Verified

Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) is a compliance framework from Singapore (MCI) with 10 domains and 19 controls. The largest domains are Part 2: Prohibited Conduct (3 controls), Part 3: Directions to Individuals (3 controls), Part 5: Declared Online Locations (3 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.

Maintained by Gerard BlokdykVerified against the published standard 31 May 2026Control text last updated 21 May 2026

Framework summaries on this platform are AI-assisted interpretations for educational and compliance planning purposes. They do not reproduce or replace the official standards. Refer to the authoritative source for the definitive text. Framework names and trademarks belong to their respective organisations.

Framework Domains (10)

Appeals

1 controls

Controls in the Appeals domain of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) — 1 controls
Code	Title	Description
SGPOFMA-4	Appeals, Cooperation with Authority	Per POFMA: appeal mechanism + cooperation with POFMA Office + minister directions.

Applicability

1 controls

Controls in the Applicability domain of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) — 1 controls
Code	Title	Description
SGPOFMA-1	Applicability and Designated Contact	Per Singapore POFMA 2019: POFMA Applicability Assessment + Designated Point of Contact for Directions + Governance and S...

Directions

1 controls

Controls in the Directions domain of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) — 1 controls
Code	Title	Description
SGPOFMA-2	Correction and Stop Communication Directions Compliance	Per POFMA: Intake and Verification of Directions + Compliance with Correction Directions + Stop Communication Directions...

Online Accounts

1 controls

Controls in the Online Accounts domain of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) — 1 controls
Code	Title	Description
SGPOFMA-3	Online Account, Targeted Correction, Service Restrictions	Per POFMA: Online Account Direction + Targeted Correction + Service Restriction Direction.

Part 2: Prohibited Conduct

3 controls

Part 2: Prohibited Conduct

Controls in the Part 2: Prohibited Conduct domain of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) — 3 controls
Code	Title	Description
POFMA-2.1	Communication of False Statement of Fact (Section 7)	Offence to communicate a false statement of fact in Singapore that is likely to be prejudicial to public interest
POFMA-2.2	Making Bot for Communication (Section 8)	Offence to make or alter a bot for the purpose of communicating false statements in Singapore
POFMA-2.3	Providing Service for Falsehoods (Section 9)	Offence to provide services for communicating false statements of fact in Singapore

Part 3: Directions to Individuals

3 controls

Part 3: Directions to Individuals

Controls in the Part 3: Directions to Individuals domain of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) — 3 controls
Code	Title	Description
POFMA-3.1	Correction Direction (Section 11)	Minister may direct the person who communicated the false statement to publish a correction notice
POFMA-3.2	Stop Communication Direction (Section 12)	Minister may direct the person to stop communicating the false statement of fact
POFMA-3.3	Targeted Correction Direction (Section 21)	Minister may direct internet intermediaries to communicate a correction notice to users who accessed the falsehood

Part 4: Directions to Intermediaries

2 controls

Part 4: Directions to Intermediaries

Controls in the Part 4: Directions to Intermediaries domain of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) — 2 controls
Code	Title	Description
POFMA-4.1	Disabling Direction (Section 22)	Minister may direct an internet intermediary to disable access to the false statement of fact
POFMA-4.2	General Correction Direction to Intermediary	Internet intermediaries must communicate corrections to all end users in Singapore who accessed the falsehood

Part 5: Declared Online Locations

3 controls

Part 5: Declared Online Locations

Controls in the Part 5: Declared Online Locations domain of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) — 3 controls
Code	Title	Description
POFMA-5.1	Declaration of Online Location (Section 32)	Minister may declare an online location that has communicated three or more false statements subject to Part 3/4 directi...
POFMA-5.2	Prohibition on Funding (Section 33)	Prohibition on providing financial support to a declared online location for the purpose of operating it
POFMA-5.3	Obligation to Display Notice (Section 34)	Declared online locations must display a prominent notice that they have been declared under POFMA

Part 6: Account Restriction and Inauthentic Behaviour

2 controls

Part 6: Account Restriction and Inauthentic Behaviour

Controls in the Part 6: Account Restriction and Inauthentic Behaviour domain of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) — 2 controls
Code	Title	Description
POFMA-6.1	Account Restriction Direction (Section 35)	Minister may direct internet intermediaries to restrict or disable inauthentic online accounts and bots
POFMA-6.2	Countering Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour	Measures to counteract coordinated inauthentic behaviour used to spread falsehoods in Singapore

Part 7: Review and Appeals

2 controls

Part 7: Review and Appeals

Controls in the Part 7: Review and Appeals domain of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) — 2 controls
Code	Title	Description
POFMA-7.1	Application to Minister (Section 19)	Person subject to a direction may apply to the Minister to vary or cancel the direction
POFMA-7.2	Appeal to High Court (Section 17)	Right to appeal to the High Court against a direction if the Minister declines to cancel or vary it

What is Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) and who does it apply to?

Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) is a compliance framework from Singapore (MCI) with 10 domains and 19 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.

What does Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) actually require?

Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) has 19 controls organised across 10 domains. The largest domains are Part 2: Prohibited Conduct (3 controls), Part 3: Directions to Individuals (3 controls), Part 5: Declared Online Locations (3 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.

If I already comply with another framework, how much of Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) do I already cover?

Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019) does not currently have cross-framework mappings in our system. Check back as we continuously expand our mapping database.

How do I implement Singapore Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA, 2019)?

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 19 controls and track your progress.

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