Bill to fight deepfakes during polls addresses need to uphold trust: Janil

It is in keeping with approach to regulating use of AI, with focus on specific challenges

- Goh Yan Han

A proposed law against Al-generated misinformation during Singapore's election periods addresses the specific need to maintain public trust in the electoral process here.

This is in keeping with the Republic's approach to regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI), where legislation is put up to deal with specific challenges instead of having just a wide-ranging law on AI, said Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Janil Puthucheary on Sept 20.

Speaking at a panel discussion on AI and governance at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Dr Janil said the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill tabled in Parliament earlier in September addresses a very different need from the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma), the Republic's fake news law.

Under Pofma, there is a public interest test and a requirement that fact be established by an authoritative third party, he said.