No more posts on S’pore’s leadership transition from accounts blocked under foreign interference law

SINGAPORE – After May 10, there were no further posts carrying malicious narratives on Singapore’s leadership transition from the network of 95 social media accounts earlier flagged under the

Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act, or Fica.

The posts also had low reach in Singapore’s local information space, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling on Aug 7. She was responding to questions from Mr Ang Wei Neng (West Coast GRC) in Parliament.

Mr Ang had asked about the reach of these posts, and if there were additional posts put up by the 95 accounts after May 10.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had directed Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X, formerly known as Twitter,

to block a network of 95 accounts for Singapore-based users under Fica.

This was the

first use of account restriction directions under Fica

since the law was passed in October 2021.

MHA said in a statement released on July 19 that there are grounds to believe that the network of accounts could and might be used to mount hostile information campaigns that are directly targeted at Singapore.

Between April 17 and May 10, 92 accounts across the five social media platforms published more than 120 posts containing videos on Singapore’s leadership transition. The posts by the accounts, which are linked to 

self-exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui,

were spreading allegations that Singapore is being controlled by China. They also alleged that China was involved in the selection of Singapore’s fourth-generation leader.

MHA said it detected the network of accounts through its regular monitoring.

Of the 95 accounts, 92 were directly linked to Guo and organisations affiliated to him – the New Federal State of China and the Himalaya Supervisory Organisation. The remaining three belong to a Singapore chapter of the Himalaya Supervisory Organisation known as Himalaya Singapore, MHA added.

Mr Ang also asked whether any of the three accounts that belonged to Himalaya Singapore were operated by residents or foreigners stationed in Singapore, and about the lessons learnt from this episode.

Ms Sun said investigations have not found any evidence that Singaporeans or persons based in Singapore are responsible for the 95 accounts.

“This episode is a reminder that Singapore is vulnerable to hostile information campaigns (HICs) because of our small, open and highly digitally connected society,” she said. “The ubiquity of technologies such as the internet, social media and artificial intelligence has made preparing for and carrying out HICs much easier.”

Tactics used by those who carry out such campaigns range from polarising societies by exploiting fault lines and manipulating public opinion on sensitive issues to undermining trust in government and institutions.

Legislative levers such as Fica to prevent, detect and disrupt HICs are important, Ms Sun added.

“However, this alone will not be enough. Public vigilance against foreign interference is equally important,” she said.

She added: “We urge Singaporeans to be discerning when consuming and disseminating information online. We should always fact-check the information, to see if it is accurate and authentic, against a credible source.”