As Singapore faces the growing threat of AI-generated deepfake content, the government is exploring temporary measures, including a potential ban, to regulate falsehoods during elections. Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Apac conference, Minister Josephine Teo mentioned South Korea’s recent 90-day ban on political AI-generated content before its elections. However, Teo acknowledged that Singapore’s shorter election period would require a different approach.

The rise of AI-generated content, including deepfakes, presents new challenges for elections worldwide. Teo highlighted how AI has been used to distort political speeches, impersonate public figures, and spread misinformation, as seen in countries like India and South Korea. She emphasized the need for updated regulations in Singapore to address loopholes where AI-created falsehoods could potentially evade existing laws.

Singapore already has robust legislation, such as the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), which targets online misinformation. Teo noted that these laws would still apply to AI-generated fake news. However, additional measures may be needed to strengthen the country’s defenses against the unique threats posed by AI in the electoral context.

In discussing Singapore’s ambitions to become a global AI leader, Teo emphasized the importance of expanding data centers and computing infrastructure. She pointed out that, despite Singapore’s relatively small size, it has one of the densest data center capacities in Asia, placing the nation in a strong position to support future AI development.