The first&nbsp;legal&nbsp;challenge&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-singapore-democratic-party-to-challenge-fake-news-notices-in-court-271645">Singapore</a>'s&nbsp;law&nbsp;against online&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapores-fake-news-law-takes-effect-as-critics-sound-alarm-253218">misinformation&nbsp;</a>was&nbsp;rejected&nbsp;Wednesday, a blow to opponents who say it is being used to stifle dissent before elections.

The controversial legislation gives authorities the power to order corrections be placed next to posts they deem false.&nbsp;

It has been slammed by rights groups and tech giants, including Facebook, who claim it curbs free speech.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-singapore-democratic-party-to-challenge-fake-news-notices-in-court-271645">Singapore Democratic&nbsp;Party to challenge fake news notices in court</a>

Since the&nbsp;law&nbsp;came into force in October, several opposition figures and activists have been ordered to place a banner next to online posts stating they contain inaccurate information.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapores-fake-news-law-takes-effect-as-critics-sound-alarm-253218">Singapore&nbsp;Democratic Party</a> (SDP), one of a handful of small opposition groups in the country, mounted the&nbsp;challenge&nbsp;after a government minister told it to correct three online posts about employment.

The posts, on Facebook and the party's website, said many Singaporeans had been displaced from white-collar jobs by foreigners claims the government said were "false and misleading".

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapores-fake-news-law-takes-effect-as-critics-sound-alarm-253218">Singapore's 'fake news' law takes effect as critics sound alarm</a>

Immigration is a hot-button issue in the city-state, where the government is regularly criticised for the large presence of foreign workers.

But the High Court dismissed the&nbsp;challenge, with Justice Ang Cheng Hock ruling that the SDP's statements were "false in the face of the statistical evidence against them".

"The appellant has not challenged the accuracy of the statistical evidence, and has instead sought to critique it on other grounds," he added.

The government insists the&nbsp;misinformation&nbsp;law&nbsp;is necessary to stop falsehoods from circulating online that could sow divisions in the multi-ethnic, multi-faith country.

But political activists and opposition parties such as the SDP say it is being used to suppress criticism ahead of elections, expected to be called within months.

While it is praised for its economic management, affluent&nbsp;Singapore's government is also regularly criticised for curbing civil liberties.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapores-fake-news-law-takes-effect-as-critics-sound-alarm-253218">People's Action Party</a> has ruled&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;for decades and looks set to comfortably win the next polls, with a fragmented opposition seen as little threat.

The first legal challenge to Singapore's law against online misinformation was rejected Wednesday, a blow to opponents who say it is being used to stifle dissent before elections.

The first legal challenge to Singapore's law against online misinformation was rejected Wednesday, a blow to opponents who say it is being used to stifle dissent before elections. The controversial legislation gives authorities the power to order corrections be placed next to posts they deem false. It has been slammed by rights groups and tech giants, including Facebook, who claim it curbs free speech. Also read: Singapore Democratic Party to challenge fake news notices in court Since the law came into force in October, several opposition figures and activists have been ordered to place a banner next to online posts stating they contain inaccurate information. The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), one of a handful of small opposition groups in the country, mounted the challenge after a government minister told it to correct three online posts about employment. The posts, on Facebook and the party's website, said many Singaporeans had been displaced from white-collar jobs by foreigners claims the government said were "false and misleading". Also read: Singapore's 'fake news' law takes effect as critics sound alarm Immigration is a hot-button issue in the city-state, where the government is regularly criticised for the large presence of foreign workers. But the High Court dismissed the challenge, with Justice Ang Cheng Hock ruling that the SDP's statements were "false in the face of the statistical evidence against them". "The appellant has not challenged the accuracy of the statistical evidence, and has instead sought to critique it on other grounds," he added. The government insists the misinformation law is necessary to stop falsehoods from circulating online that could sow divisions in the multi-ethnic, multi-faith country. But political activists and opposition parties such as the SDP say it is being used to suppress criticism ahead of elections, expected to be called within months. While it is praised for its economic management, affluent Singapore's government is also regularly criticised for curbing civil liberties. The People's Action Party has ruled Singapore for decades and looks set to comfortably win the next polls, with a fragmented opposition seen as little threat.

Legal challenge to Singapore misinformation law rejected

Singapore&nbsp;political figure Brad Bowyer on Monday corrected a&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;post&nbsp;questioning the independence of state investment firms following a government request, in the&nbsp;first&nbsp;use of the country's new "fake news"&nbsp;law.

Bowyer used "false and misleading" statements alleging the government influenced decisions made by state investors<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-%26-economy/singapores-temasek-reports-record-235-bn-portfolio-150518"> Temasek Holdings</a> and<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bank-lic-gic-unions-to-protest-against-govt-policies-tomorrow-151379"> GIC</a>, according to a statement on the official government fact-checking website.

Bowyer said he had placed a correction notice with a link to the government statement above his&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;post&nbsp;following a request to do so under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA).

"I have no problem in following that request as I feel it is fair to have both points of view and clarifications and corrections of fact when necessary," Bowyer said in a statement on&nbsp;Facebook.

"In general, I caution all those who comment on our domestic politics and social issues to do so with due care and attention especially if you speak from any place of influence."

Bowyer, a naturalized&nbsp;Singaporean born in Britain, has been a member of the ruling party and opposition parties but has never stood for elected office.

A spokesman for the newly-created POFMA office said the correction requested by the minister for finance was the&nbsp;first&nbsp;case under the new&nbsp;law, which came into effect in October.

Rights groups have raised concerns the fake news&nbsp;law&nbsp;will be used to stifle free speech and chill dissent in the city-state, where the ruling party has comfortably won every election since independence in 1965.

Singapore&nbsp;says it is particularly vulnerable to fake news because of its position as a global financial hub, its mixed ethnic and religious population, and widespread internet access.

Singapore political figure Brad Bowyer on Monday corrected a Facebook post questioning the independence of state investment firms following a government request, in the first use of the country's new "fake news" law.

Singapore political figure Brad Bowyer on Monday corrected a Facebook post questioning the independence of state investment firms following a government request, in the first use of the country's new "fake news" law. Bowyer used "false and misleading" statements alleging the government influenced decisions made by state investors Temasek Holdings and GIC, according to a statement on the official government fact-checking website. Bowyer said he had placed a correction notice with a link to the government statement above his Facebook post following a request to do so under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA). "I have no problem in following that request as I feel it is fair to have both points of view and clarifications and corrections of fact when necessary," Bowyer said in a statement on Facebook. "In general, I caution all those who comment on our domestic politics and social issues to do so with due care and attention especially if you speak from any place of influence." Bowyer, a naturalized Singaporean born in Britain, has been a member of the ruling party and opposition parties but has never stood for elected office. A spokesman for the newly-created POFMA office said the correction requested by the minister for finance was the first case under the new law, which came into effect in October. Rights groups have raised concerns the fake news law will be used to stifle free speech and chill dissent in the city-state, where the ruling party has comfortably won every election since independence in 1965. Singapore says it is particularly vulnerable to fake news because of its position as a global financial hub, its mixed ethnic and religious population, and widespread internet access.

Singapore invokes 'fake news' law for first time over Facebook post

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Legal challenge to Singapore misinformation law rejected

Singapore invokes 'fake news' law for first time over Facebook post