SINGAPORE – Social media platform X has removed videos showing ISIS-Khorasan’s March 22 massacre in a concert hall near Moscow after being notified by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
Several accounts on the platform had shared footage from the Amaq News Agency – ISIS’ official news channel – with both a censored and an uncensored version being circulated as at March 26.
In the 1min 31sec videos, the attackers’ faces were blurred out and their voices distorted. The only difference between the two versions was that one of the victims’ faces had been blurred while his throat was slashed repeatedly with a knife.
More than 140 people were killed during the attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue, which was later set ablaze. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was carried out by four of its fighters.
IMDA said it told X about the video, which is considered “harmful content” under Singapore’s online safety code of practice.
“X removed the content promptly upon notification,” said the authority, adding that social media platforms with significant reach or impact in Singapore are required to comply with the code.
Rolled out in 2023, the code of practice sets measures for social media platforms to minimise local access to harmful material, including violent content.
The platforms are also required to be proactive in their detection and removal of terrorism content, among others.
In this case, X’s algorithm had recommended the videos to some users on its “For you” timeline.
According to X’s website, the algorithm sources for 50 per cent of its recommended posts from users that an individual follows. The other 50 per cent comes from external users, and is based on the popularity of the post, among several other factors.
Some of the posts included links to Telegram channels where content from the Amaq News Agency was directly being shared, although the links have since been taken down.
When contacted, X sent only automated replies to both of The Straits Times’ e-mails, asking it to check back later.
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in response to queries that while the authorities are vigilant against terrorism in the online space, the wide reach of the internet and social media made it easier for terrorists to spread their violent ideologies, recruit members and plot attacks.
“Since 2015, 38 self-radicalised Singaporeans have been detained or issued with Restriction Orders under the Internal Security Act; almost all of them were radicalised by violent extremist and terrorist content which they had consumed on the internet and social media,” it said.
The use of social media by terror groups was not new, and ISIS was among those that had made the most of it, said Mr Jasminder Singh, an associate research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
“Terror groups have been able to adapt to social media very well. Even now, they are updating how they present themselves, making sleek propaganda productions and trying to grab attention spans quickly, in line with how social media is consumed today.”
By using usernames that were not typically associated with such groups, sympathisers were able to help spread the word too – something of great concern, especially as more young people make use of social media, he added.
“Who is going to be the gatekeeper? While supervision from parents and schools is needed, at the end of the day, it all goes back to these social media companies,” he said.
These companies have been working with governments to remove such content, but it still remains available, said MHA, which added that those actively seeking the content would still be able to find them.
However, it stressed that the authorities in Singapore will not hesitate to take action against individuals who promote extremist or terrorist content online.
MHA added that such individuals and content should be reported to the authorities, either through the SGSecure app, to the Internal Security Department at 1800-2626-473, or to the police.
