70 PART 2 PROHIBITION OF COMMUNICATION OF FALSE STATEMENTS OF FACT IN SINGAPORE Part 2 (comprising clauses 7, 8 and 9) criminalises the communication of false statements of fact in Singapore in certain circumstances, and various acts which enable or facilitate such communication. Clause 7 provides that a person commits an offence if the person communicates in Singapore a statement knowing or having reason to believe that it is a false statement of fact, and that such communication is likely to have certain effects (e.g. it prejudices Singapore’s security, public health or public safety). The punishment is enhanced if an inauthentic online account or a bot is used in the communication, to amplify the false statement of fact. Clause 8 provides that a person commits an offence if the person makes or alters a bot with the intention of using it to communicate in Singapore a false statement of fact or enabling another person to do so. The punishment is enhanced if the communication in Singapore of the statement is likely to have certain effects (e.g. it prejudices Singapore’s security, public health or public safety). Clause 9 provides that a person commits an offence if the person solicits, receives or agrees to receive a benefit for providing a service which the person knows is or will be used to communicate a false statement of fact in Singapore, if the service is in fact used in such communication. Again, the punishment is enhanced if the communication in Singapore of the statement is likely to have certain effects (e.g. it prejudices Singapore’s security, public health or public safety). A court which convicts a person of such offence may (in addition to the prescribed punishment) order the person to pay a sum equal to the amount or value of the financial or other material benefit received. PART 3 DIRECTIONS DEALING WITH COMMUNICATION IN SINGAPORE OF FALSE STATEMENTS OF FACT Part 3 (comprising clauses 10 to 19) provides for directions which may be given against persons who communicate in Singapore a false statement of fact. A direction (called in the Bill a Part 3 Direction) may require a person to put up a correction notice or to stop communicating such statement. Clause 10 provides that any Minister may direct the Competent Authority to issue a Part 3 Direction if a false statement of fact has been or is being communicated in Singapore, and the Minister is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to issue the Direction.