Khaw Boon Wan issues correction direction to Facebook over posts about Woodlands MRT closure due to suspected case of coronavirus

SINGAPORE — Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan has ordered the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) office to issue a “targeted” correction direction to Facebook over posts made by two users.

In their posts, they alleged that Woodlands MRT station was closed for disinfection following a suspect case of the Wuhan coronavirus on Jan 28 when the station was in fact fully operational.

In a statement to the media, the Pofma office said the social media platform is required to carry a correction notice on the two posts.

This comes a day after Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran said at a multi-ministry press conference addressing the Wuhan virus situation that the Government must take swift action against mistruths after several cases of falsehoods have been used to create anxiety.

On Monday morning (Jan 27), the Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a general correction direction under the fake news law against online forum HardwareZone and its operator SPH Magazines over a user’s post that stated that someone had died from the Wuhan coronavirus.

A post made by user Potato_salad at around 5.50pm on Jan 26 contained false information that Singapore had reported its first death — a 66-year-old man — due to severe pneumonia arising from the virus.

The post has since been removed and SPH Magazines has since complied with the Pofma directive.