Govt may take action against foreign entities that manipulate social media algorithms to affect S'pore politics

If a foreign person or entity deliberately manipulates social media algorithms to affect Singapore's domestic politics, it would count as foreign interference, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling during a parliament sitting on Feb. 5.

As such, the government may use various provisions, such as those under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021 (FICA) and the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), to counter the interference.

Sun was responding to Jurong GRC MP Tan Wu Meng who asked if the government had assessed the potential impact if a foreign-based social media platform manipulates its algorithms to affect the reach of a candidate during the General Election period.

Tan also asked if this constitutes foreign interference under existing laws.

The next General Election must be held before Nov. 23, 2025.

It was announced on Jan. 22, 2025 that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had convened the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee.

Measures such as FICA and POFMA to counter foreign influence during General Election

Sun said that the government is aware that social media platform algorithms may potentially manipulate the consumption of information by its users.

The minister of state said that FICA may be used against algorithmically driven online foreign interference, particularly hostile information campaigns driven by foreign actors to influence Singapore's elections.

She also clarified that FICA deals with activities conducted by foreign actors, typically through covert or deceptive means, that affect Singapore's domestic politics to advance the foreign actors' interests.

In July 2024, MHA announced that Account Restriction Directions (ARDs) under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021 (FICA) were issued to social media platforms X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, requiring them to block 95 online accounts on their platforms from being accessible to Singapore end-users.

The accounts were flagged for posting false narratives on Singapore’s leadership transition.

POFMA may be used to counter online falsehoods related to the public's interests during an election period, Sun added.

Online advertising during the General Election period must also abide by the relevant rules in the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 for transparency and accountability.

The Parliamentary Elections Act empowers the returning officer to direct social media platforms to disable access to or remove any online election advertising that violates these rules.

"The government will engage social media companies ahead of the upcoming January actions to remind them of the need to comply with applicable laws, especially those concerning foreign interference."

Open to more conversations and engagement on the matter

WP Pritam Singh then asked how the ministry would independently ascertain where the algorithms have been manipulated for the reasons put in the parliamentary question.

In response, Sun said algorithms used by social media companies are not illegal and that the FICA Act aims to counter algorithms used by foreign entities with a political end in mind, to influence domestic politics in Singapore.

Sun also agreed with Tan that the government is open to conversations and engagement regarding the matter, adding they desire to hear from academics and social media companies about the trends they are seeing.

Citing the use of false AI-generated videos in the 2024 UK General Election, as well as the alleged use of a social media bot farm to spread disinformation in the U.S. and abroad during the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, Sun said MHA would be open to conversations and engagements regarding the topic.

"We will continue to study the evolving online landscape and review if additional regulations for social media services are needed as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance online safety in Singapore and strengthen our defences against foreign interference."

Top image via Canva, MDDI/YouTube, and MDDI website.