In forceUpdated to 5 Dec 2025

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Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021 · Updated to 5 Dec 2025 · Part 3 · Directions Against Harmful Foreign Online Communications Activity

20. Authorisation by Minister for direction to be given

(1)

The Minister may authorise the competent authority to give one or more Part 3 directions as specified by the Minister in the authorisation where, in the opinion of the Minister —

(a)

there is undertaking of online communications activity, or online communications activity has been undertaken —

(i)

wholly or partly in Singapore;

(ii)

wholly or partly on a Singapore aircraft or Singapore vessel, whether the aircraft or vessel is in or outside Singapore at the time of the conduct; or

(iii)

wholly outside Singapore;

(b)

the online communications activity is or has been undertaken, or is suspected of being or having been undertaken, by or on behalf of a foreign principal; (c)the online communications activity results in any information or material being published in Singapore; and (d)it is in the public interest to authorise the giving of that or those Part 3 direction or directions, after having regard to the circumstances of the case.

(2)

When authorised by the Minister under subsection (1), the competent authority must immediately give the Part 3 direction or directions specified in the authorisation.

(3)

However, if any information or material was published in Singapore before the date of commencement of this section, subsection (1) does not apply to the information or material unless the information or material remains published in Singapore on or after that date.

Read on from s 21

Part 4