Singapore:
Singapore on Thursday ordered Facebook and Twitter to carry a correction notice to customers of the social media platforms in the nation more than what it says is a false statement about a new virus variant originating in Singapore.
The ministry of well being stated it was conscious of the statement circulating on the web on media outlets and social media platforms, which implied that a new, previously unknown variant of COVID-19 originated in Singapore and risked spreading to India from the city-state.
The move came immediately after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal stated in a Twitter post this week that a new type of the virus that was specifically dangerous to children had come to Singapore, and urged for a ban on flights.
Both the Singapore and Indian governments have criticised the opposition politician, saying his comments had been not based on details and had been “irresponsible”.
The correction orders had been issued below Singapore’s fake news law, or the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act.
Facebook confirmed receipt of the order and stated it was legally compelled to problem the correction notice. A prompt on users’ Facebook news feeds linked to a government web-site that stated there was no new ‘Singapore’ variant of COVID-19.
Neither is there proof of any COVID-19 variant that is ‘extremely harmful for kids’, the well being ministry stated.
It stated the B16172 strain located in a lot of new COVID-19 situations in Singapore was very first detected in India.
Twitter did not right away respond to a request for comment.
Singapore Press Holdings’ SPH Magazines, which was also issued the order, stated it had complied and posted the notice in its HardWareZone forum.