World · Singapore Bureau
Activist Kokila Annamalai faces trial for POFMA non-compliance
The activist is accused of failing to comply with a correction direction issued over social media posts about a death row drug trafficker. The case centres on posts made in October 2024.
LSN Singapore ·
Kokila Annamalai, a rights activist, is on trial for allegedly breaching the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) by failing to comply with a correction direction.
The correction direction was issued following social media posts the activist made in October 2024 concerning a drug trafficker who is on death row. The posts in question prompted authorities to issue the direction, requiring her to add corrections or disclaimers to the posts.
Under POFMA, individuals who receive a correction direction must comply within the specified timeframe. Non-compliance can result in criminal charges and penalties.
The case comes as Singapore continues to enforce its online falsehoods legislation, which aims to combat the spread of false statements of fact online. Activists and civil society groups have previously expressed concerns about the law's scope and its potential impact on freedom of expression.
The trial is expected to test the boundaries of the legislation and its application to social media posts discussing matters of public interest.