Singapore has laws and policies designed to prevent situations like UK riots: Shanmugam

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disinformation and hate speech were among causes of the riots that followed a July 29 stabbing in which three girls were killed. Police arrested a 17-year-old male, and false information circulated on social media that the suspect was an Islamist migrant, which led to violent anti-Muslim protests in Southport the following day and an attempt to attack the town’s mosque....public figures and online influencers added fuel to the fire, stoking anti-immigrant and xenophobic sentiments, sparking the worst riots in 13 years.

while free speech is important in Singapore, there is little tolerance for fake speech, racial or religious hate speech, or speech that incites violence, particularly if it impacts law and order.

In reply to some who have asked why Singapore does not allow protests about the Palestine cause, he said protests would, in turn, have to be allowed for other causes – for example, the situation in Ukraine, against China relating to the Uighurs, or on domestic issues, including racial issues.

Qn. ‘In a free society, there should be no restrictions on freedom of speech.’ Discuss. (Cam. 2020)