Daijiworld Media Network - Singapore
Singapore, Jun 7: Singapore authorities have ordered social media platforms to block 14 posts allegedly linked to a China-based online platform, accusing them of attempting to incite racial tensions and undermine the country's multicultural harmony.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed YouTube, Facebook and X to disable access to the posts after determining that they contained inflammatory content targeting Singapore's Indian community.
The Singapore Police Force issued the Disabling Directions under the Online Criminal Harms Act 2023 (OCHA), requiring the platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent users in Singapore from accessing the flagged content.
According to authorities, the narratives first emerged last month in Chinese-language online spaces and portrayed Singapore as being anxious about its cultural identity and ethnic politics. The content later escalated into claims that the country was being "overrun" by Indians and that its multiracial policies existed merely to gain approval from Western nations.
Some posts argued that Singapore's social stability was due to its Chinese-majority population rather than its multicultural framework. Others claimed that Indian politicians in Singapore would prioritise the interests of Indian immigrants and suggested that Singapore's culture was fundamentally Chinese. The posts further warned that the country's perceived distancing from China, coupled with a growing Indian presence, would lead to negative consequences.
To reinforce these narratives, the posts reportedly used selective images and videos, including footage of crowded streets in Little India during weekends when migrant workers gather on their day off, and scenes of Indian devotees participating in a religious festival on Pagoda Street.
Authorities said the content also contained derogatory language, including references comparing an increase in the Indian population to a "concentration of curry".
The MHA assessed that the posts were likely in breach of Section 298A of Singapore's Penal Code, which criminalises acts that promote enmity, hatred or ill-will between racial or religious groups, or threaten racial harmony.
Investigations indicated that the content likely originated on a China-based platform before spreading to other websites and social media channels. Authorities said there appeared to be deliberate and coordinated efforts to push the material into Singapore's information environment.
Singapore has long regarded racial and religious harmony as a cornerstone of national stability and identity. The government has traditionally taken a firm stance against content that threatens social cohesion through laws such as the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and provisions under the Penal Code.
The Online Criminal Harms Act, introduced in 2023, strengthened the government's ability to act swiftly against harmful online content by allowing authorities to order its removal or restriction without waiting for lengthy platform review processes.
In its statement, the MHA rejected the narratives and highlighted the contributions of Indian migrant workers, particularly in sectors such as construction, describing them as valued members of Singapore society.
"Singapore firmly opposes nativism and xenophobia," the ministry said, adding that attempts by foreign actors to sow racial discord were "doubly unacceptable".
The government also urged citizens to remain vigilant and critically assess online content, warning against efforts to divide Singapore's multiracial society along racial lines.