Law banning deepfakes of candidates in place for first time, among other guidelines: ELD

Rules related to online campaigning would protect prospective candidates

- Vanessa Paige Chelvan Correspondent and Gabrielle Chan

A new law banning fake or digitally altered online material that misrepresents candidates will be in place for the first time this general election, said the Elections Department (ELD) on April 15.

Announcing campaign guidelines on April 15, ELD said the rules related to online campaigning would protect prospective candidates who have paid their election deposit and consented to their candidature being made public.

"These rules, which will be in place for the first time in GE2025, serve to uphold the truthfulness of representation during an election," it said in a statement.

The campaigning period will start after nomination proceedings end on Nomination Day, April 23, and run all the way until Cooling-off Day on May 2. Singaporeans will head to the polls on May 3.

The date of the election was announced on April 15, shortly after President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, dissolved Singapore's 14th Parliament.

Here are the guidelines for campaigning as Singapore gears up for the election: NO NEW BANNERS, FLAGS AND POSTERS BEFORE CAMPAIGN PERIOD No new banners, flags and posters that constitute election advertising are allowed to be displayed until the end of nomination proceedings on April 23, said ELD.

Town councils and other organisations may already have visual displays in public spaces such as banners with messages like "Welcome to (estate name)" — that include the name, image or political party symbol of individuals who could be prospective candidates.

While these are part of regular publicity efforts and not related to elections, they may be mistaken by the public as election advertising, said ELD.

As a result, the display of such materials will be regulated from April 15, said ELD. However, existing banners, flags and posters can remain on display if they meet the following conditions: