Singapore’s ban on anti-Indian posts exposes threat of race ‘weaponisation’ (original) (raw)

Singapore’s move to ban anti-Indian social media posts reportedly originating from a China-based platform has thrown into sharp relief how foreign actors can exploit racial fault lines in the city state.

Analysts warn that this emerging battleground for disinformation is being “weaponised” against the country’s multiracial society.

On Saturday, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs said it ordered social media giants YouTube, Facebook and X to block access to 14 online posts after investigations indicated the content most likely originated from a “China-based platform” before being shared more widely.

Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said hostile actors typically targeted issues capable of dividing society and provoking strong emotions, including xenophobia and racism, after identifying such vulnerabilities.

“Presently, there is an unease about employment and perceptions about people from India coming over to take local jobs,” Chong said, adding that “latent” racist sentiments were being weaponised.

“The Indian community is the current target of convenience, but what the posts really do is to play on existing prejudices.”