Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021
The Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021, or Fica/FICA, is a statute of the Parliament of Singapore. Enacted in 2021, it seeks to "protect the public interest by counteracting acts of foreign interference". The Bill was introduced on 13 September 2021 and passed on 4 October 2021. Background Legislation targeting foreign influence in Singapore had been mooted in as early as 2017. In March 2021, Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo announced that the government was considering the use of "legislative levers" to combat foreign influence. Key provisions The act grants the Minister for Home Affairs the authority to investigate individuals suspected of being foreign agents engaged in "hostile information campaigns". An independent panel, chaired by a judge, will consider appeals against the minister's findings, although persons marked as "politically significant" may not be allowed to file such appeals. Authorities will also be allowed to compel social media platforms and website operators to hand over user data, without any justification in select instances. Reactions and statements Support Facebook issued a statement agreeing with the goals of the bill, while also noting that it was worded "very broadly". Opposition Reporters Without Borders described the act as "legal monstrosity with totalitarian leanings",