Proposed bill banning deepfakes 'a proactive move': expert

Another expert said that the ban will mitigate the risk of misleading the public.

Singapore’s proposed bill banning deepfakes and digitally manipulated content during elections is a proactive move, which aligns with its broader strategy to protect the integrity of its democratic processes and prevent misinformation, an expert said.

“As deepfakes become more sophisticated and accessible, their ability to create confusion and distrust in electoral outcomes grows, making such regulatory actions increasingly critical,” said Abhishek Kumar Singh, head, Security Engineering of Check Point Software Technologies Singapore

Introduced by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, the proposed bill targets AI-generated misinformation that misrepresents candidates. The ban would apply during the election period from the issuance of the writ of election process until the polling closes. 

The proposed measure penalises publishing or sharing such content, with steep fines for non-compliant social media platforms. 

Singh said that the city-state's emphasis on cybersecurity and digital literacy, with its regulatory measures, places it at the forefront of countries combating the misuse of AI-driven technology in politics. 

Similarly, Boris Cipot, Senior Security Engineer of Synopsys Software Integrity Group, also said that the proposed bill addresses a serious issue that can sway the public into believing false information.

“Popular deepfake videos of Barack Obama from 2018 and Nancy Pelosi from 2019, both showcase what this technique of video editing is capable of and how a realistic videos created by AI can influence the public's thoughts,” he said.