Singapore’s civic space continues to be classified as “repressed,” according to the latest update on CIVICUS Monitor report in February, which highlights ongoing concerns about the country’s restrictive legal environment and its impact on civil liberties.
The report, titled People Power Under Attack, underscores that Singaporean authorities use laws such as the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) and the Public Order Act (POA) to stifle dissent, target activists, and limit peaceful assembly.
Restrictive laws and government actions under scrutiny
POFMA, enacted in 2019, grants broad powers to the government to issue correction directions and block content online. It has frequently been used against activists, critics, and independent media outlets. The 2009 Public Order Act, meanwhile, imposes stringent regulations on public assemblies, requiring police permits for gatherings, even if they involve only one person.
The 2024 report by Freedom House also classified Singapore as “partly free,” pointing to restrictions on political rights and civil liberties. It criticised the country’s electoral and legal framework for limiting the development of opposition parties and suppressing freedoms of expression and association.
Crackdown on anti-death penalty activists
In recent months, POFMA has been deployed against organisations like the Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), which opposes the death penalty.
On 20 December 2024, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information declared TJC’s website and social media pages a “Declared Online Location” (DOL), barring them from receiving financial or material benefits for two years.
The designation followed multiple correction directions, including one issued on 5 October 2024, for allegedly disseminating misinformation.
Facing potential criminal liabilities under POFMA, TJC suspended its website and social media operations on 21 January 2025. The group described the restrictions as a threat to freedom of expression and highlighted its determination to continue its advocacy through alternative channels.
Eleven civil society organisations, including CIVICUS, condemned the restrictions, stating that the measures stifle debates on human rights issues, particularly those related to the death penalty.
TJC activists, including Kokila Annamalai, Rocky Howe, and Sobikun Nahar, have been summoned for investigations under POFMA. Annamalai, who refused to comply with a correction order issued in October 2024, faces possible imprisonment and fines.
Regional anti-death penalty network and media targeted
The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) also received a POFMA correction direction in October 2024 for allegedly making false claims about the government’s execution practices.
Civil society groups argue that such measures create a climate of fear, restricting informed public discourse on the death penalty and other issues of public interest.
In December 2024, several media outlets, including Bloomberg, The Online Citizen (TOC), The Independent Singapore, and The Edge Singapore, received correction orders related to reports on real estate transactions and death penalty cases.
Bloomberg stated its disagreement with the order but complied while reserving its right to appeal.
An academic site, East Asia Forum, was blocked in January 2025 after failing to comply with a POFMA correction direction concerning an article on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Censorship concerns: films, protests, and racial harmony law
The banning of Daniel Hui’s film Small Hours of the Night in November 2024 further exemplifies censorship concerns. The film, addressing historical censorship, was deemed “likely to be prejudicial to national interests” and barred from screening at the Singapore International Film Festival.
Additionally, the introduction of the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill in January 2025 has raised alarm among civil society groups. The law allows pre-emptive restraining orders against individuals or organisations accused of threatening racial harmony, but critics argue that its vague provisions could suppress legitimate discussions on race.
Harsh treatment of peaceful assembly
Activists such as Jolovan Wham have faced charges under the Public Order Act for participating in anti-death penalty vigils.
On 3 February 2025, Wham was charged with attending five unauthorised assemblies held between 2022 and 2023. Singapore’s laws require police permits for all public gatherings, with exceptions only at the designated Speakers’ Corner in Hong Lim Park.
The restrictive legal environment also led to a police investigation into a student-led memorial for Palestine at the National University of Singapore in January 2025. The event was unauthorised under the Public Order Act.
International response and ongoing advocacy
International human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have criticised Singapore’s treatment of civil society, particularly its harassment of activists in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, which saw Tharman Shanmugaratnam elected as president.
Despite the significant challenges, civil society groups continue to advocate for greater freedom of expression and human rights reforms. Transformative Justice Collective has vowed to persist in its work through alternative platforms, and solidarity campaigns like #idefypofma have emerged to resist what activists call the misuse of anti-misinformation laws.
As Singapore’s legal and regulatory framework continues to draw international criticism, civic groups remain determined to push for reforms that enable a more open and inclusive civic space.
