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From black ops to bots: Countering hostile, foreign meddling in Singapore's affairs
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Social media bots have amplified controversial issues during elections around the world, sought to stoke sentiments in disputes between Singapore and other countries, and spread disinformation on Covid-19.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Justin Ong, Lim Min Zhang
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SINGAPORE - In the 1960s, a series of meetings and secret negotiations with Chinese communist intelligence services led to Singaporean businessman and Tiger Balm family scion Aw Kow receiving a loan of over HK$6 million to start an English-language daily here.
The catch? The newspaper, named Eastern Sun, had to follow principles laid down by the officials from China - such as not opposing the state on major issues - as part of a long-term political objective of gaining control of Singapore's press.
