Authorities investigating social media accounts targeting political parties during GE2025

Social media accounts created shortly before Nomination Day that appear to target different political parties are under probe, said the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI).

The content, often created by accounts with fake AI images, appeared to portray candidates negatively and often falsely.

Authorities will continue to keep an eye on the online space to ensure there is no meddling from foreigners, MDDI said.

The Singapore government will also take action if online content breaches the law.

An MDDI spokesperson told The Straits Times that the ministry will continue to monitor the online space for foreign interference, and urged the public to be discerning consumers of information.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling previously said during a parliament sitting on Feb. 5 that the government may use various provisions to counter foreign interference.

The Provisions under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021 (FICA) may be used against algorithmically driven online foreign interference, particularly hostile information campaigns driven by foreign actors to influence Singapore's elections.

The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) may be used to counter online falsehoods related to the public's interests during an election period.

If a foreign person or entity deliberately manipulates social media algorithms to affect Singapore's domestic politics, it would count as foreign interference.

Take precautions, stay vigilant

MDDI warned users to stay vigilant and gave tips on how to spot deepfakes.

This included checking if the images looked digitally manipulated, if the posts misrepresent anyone, and if the content appeared to be deliberately misleading to influence public perception of a particular figure.

In a joint advisory by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), and the Elections Department (ELD) on Apr. 19, they urged candidates to take precautions to safeguard the integrity of Singapore's electoral processes.

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