Important to share personal data to combat fake news, say MPs; legal experts are concerned about what constitutes public interest

A Dec 19, 2019 move by various ministries and agencies, including the CPF Board, disclosed the full name of a 46-year-old woman and some of her medical history. PHOTO: ST FILE
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SINGAPORE - The decision by government agencies to name a 46-year-old woman, who wanted to withdraw her Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings for medical treatment, and make public her personal details can be viewed as an essential move to curb the problem of fake news, MPs and legal experts told The Straits Times.

But some also wonder if the same goal could have been achieved without naming the person, even if the law allowed it.

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