6 fake 'S'pore news' websites operated by foreign actors blocked by govt over potential hostile misinformation campaigns

Six deceptive websites operated by foreign entities that may be used to conduct hostile information campaigns (HICs) against Singapore have been identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

This was announced in a joint press release by MHA and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) issued on Apr. 23, 2026.

According to IMDA, it decided to issue directions to Internet Access Service Providers (IASPs) to disable public access to the websites after considering MHA's findings.

The websites are said have disguised themselves as legitimate Singapore platforms by using Singapore-related terms in their domain names and publishing content styled as local news.

They have also been linked to a broader network of sites previously identified by international analysts as sources of misinformation and deliberate disinformation.

The six websites are as follows:

• singaporeheadline.com
• singaporeweek.com
• singapore24hour.com
• nanyangweekly.com
• singaporebuzz.com
• sgtimes.com

Associated with network of inauthentic websites

According to the news release, the first five websites mentioned above are revealed to be associated with a network of inauthentic news websites flagged by Google’s Threat Analysis Group and Mandiant.

They were all created on Mar. 28, 2021, and later revamped in June 2025.

Some of the enhancements made include search bars and "trending now" highlights to better resemble authentic news outlets.

The ways in which they disguise themselves include the usage of domain names with the word "Singapore" or associated terms, as well as the publishing of Singapore-related content.

The websites "Nanyangweekly.com" and "singaporebuzz.com" also feature sub-headers titled "Singapore News" and "voice from Singapore" respectively.

Separately, "Singaporeheadline.com" and "singaporeweek.com" state that their websites are about Singapore news.

Of the five websites, four of them (i.e., "nanyangweekly.com", "singapore24hour.com", "singaporeheadline.com" and "singaporeweek.com") carried General Election (GE)-related news over the course of the 10-day campaign period during the 2025 General Election (GE).

In the lead-up to the 2025 General Election (GE), most of the websites showed little to no activity before the writ of election was issued, and only began operating once the election was officially called.

"Most of the Singapore-related content on the five inauthentic websites are assessed to have been taken from mainstream media outlets such as Channel NewsAsia (CNA), The Straits Times, and Mothership, as well as from foreign media outlets such as Bloomberg and Business Insider, but attributed to themselves," said MHA and IMDA.

Such acts can mislead readers into believing that the five fake websites are legitimate Singapore-related news websites, and that the content published is reflective of official positions or local sentiments.

The sixth website, "sgtimes.com", also presents itself as a Singapore mainstream news website.

On its website, its sub-header reads "Singapore News and Travel", and the site predominantly posts local news.

It is also revealed to have posted an article titled "Singapore’s major media Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore Times" on Jul. 25, 2025, in which the website was said to be a local mainstream media website which had high monthly traffic.

Common tactic

It is not uncommon for malicious foreign actors to create convincing websites to build local credibility, only to later weaponise them to mount HICs, said MHA and IMDA.

"We have observed overseas examples where such foreign actors have created and used inauthentic news websites to propagate false narratives and sway the target population’s sentiments to advance their own interests."

"The outcomes are serious," they stressed, explaining that HICs can incite social tension, exploit fault lines in society, manipulate elections, as well as undermine the public's faith in government institutions.

As such, public access to the six websites will be disabled under the Broadcasting Act.

Similarly, in October 2024, the act was applied to take down 10 inauthentic websites set up by foreign actors.

MHA and IMDA urged Singaporeans to remain vigilant when accessing online content and to be on the lookout for such fake websites and the threat they pose.

Top photos from Canva and Singapore Buzz, Singapore Week, and The Singapore Times websites