Categories: Social Media News

Singapore orders social media platforms to block foreign posts targeting Indian community

Three social media platforms have been ordered to block access to 14 posts which “target the Indian community and undermine Singapore’s model of multiculturalism”, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Saturday.

The police have issued disabling directions under the Online Criminal Harms Act to block access to the posts on YouTube, Facebook and X, MHA said in a statement.

The direction required the platforms to “take all reasonable steps to disable access by Singapore users to these posts”, it added.

Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong told reporters at Siglap South Community Centre on Saturday that “from what we know so far, the content originated from overseas”.

Investigations into the problematic content in these posts had revealed that it likely originated from a China-based platform, and was subsequently shared by other platforms and websites.

Screenshot of a YouTube account using images and footage of crowded streets along Singapore’s Little India to target the Indian community. Photo: Ministry of Home Affairs

“These videos attack our multiracial society and they try to divide people based on race. This, however, is not who we are. Every community in Singapore here is valued and everyone has an equal place,” said Tong, who is also Minister for Law.

Social Media Asia Editor