Govt to continue working with public service media to counter misinformation, maintain reach

The authorities are studying approaches taken by other countries to keep public service media content visible. Read more at straitstimes.com.

SINGAPORE - The Republic’s public service media entities have become indispensable in countering misinformation, given that they reach more than 90 per cent of Singaporeans and are highly trusted by the public, said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo on March 2.

Speaking during the debate on her ministry’s budget, Mrs Teo said the Government will continue to work closely with these media outlets to maintain their reach and strengthen their fact-checking capabilities.

Mrs Teo was responding to questions from Mr Henry Kwek (Kebun Baru) and Ms Tin Pei Ling (Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC) about countering fake news in the age of artificial intelligence, as well as support for public service media entities amid a fragmenting media space.

Ms Tin noted that Singapore, as an open society, has had to contend with fake news reports, such as AI-generated videos that claimed that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s leadership role was under threat.

The reports are convincing enough that at least one of her residents “believed the story so wholeheartedly that I found it hard to dissuade him”, she said.

She asked how the Government will strengthen public service media – which includes The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao and CNA – so that it can be more effective in countering misinformation.