Singapore: Implemented POFMA Office Code of Practice for Giving Prominence to Credible Online Sources of Information

On 2 October 2019, the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office’s Code of Practice for Giving Prominence to Credible Online Sources of Information (Prominence Code) entered into force. The code was issiued under under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act 2019 and outlines the obligations of prescribed internet intermediaries to highlight credible online sources and avoid giving prominence to locations or materials containing false statements subject to Part 3 or Part 4 Directions. The Prominence Code requires intermediaries to implement due diligence measures. These measures include prioritising authoritative information in automatically ranked distribution channels, providing contextual information about trustworthy sources, ensuring that declared online locations and materials under Part 3 or Part 4 Directions do not appear in sections promoting viewership, and maintaining Government reporting channels to address and act on reports concerning such materials. Additionally, intermediaries must submit an annual report to the POFMA Office detailing the implementation of these measures.