The debate around the recently passed Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act brought to light the different possibilities and difficulties in developing legislative responses to the scourge of fake news. However, legislation constitutes but one tool in a society's arsenal against this menacing threat, with technological solutions constituting another critical bulwark. After all, it is technological tools that amplify the adverse impact of the age-old problem of misinformation and disinformation, which we now expediently refer to as "fake news".

This means we must delve more deeply into technological remedies to counter this egregious problem which is corroding public discourse, both online and off. Indeed, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat recently called for countries to actively collaborate to address social challenges, highlighting fake news as a key item on the agenda.