Our Bureau
Singapore
In a recent development, the Singapore government has initiated an investigation into Indian-origin activist Kokila Annamalai for allegedly posting inaccurate statements regarding the execution of drug-related convicted prisoners. At the heart of this controversy lies the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), Singapore’s stringent legislation designed to counteract the spread of falsehoods on digital platforms.
On October 5, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a correction order under POFMA against Annamalai, directing her to remove posts deemed misleading. However, despite receiving the directive, Annamalai failed to comply. Her continued assertions claimed that the government arbitrarily schedules executions and does not bear the legal burden of proof in drug trafficking cases—a stance categorically refuted by authorities.
Following her non-compliance, the MHA took decisive action. Social media giants Meta and X were instructed to issue alerts to users who interacted with Annamalai’s problematic posts, linking them to a government fact-checking article designed to refute her claims.
“The Minister for Home Affairs has instructed the POFMA Office to issue a targeted correction direction to Meta Platforms and X, following Kokila Annamalai’s non-compliance,” MHA said in a press release.
