Singapore Prison Service debunks online claims that it launched ‘the world's first floating prison'
Social media posts claimed that the move was to 'solve overcrowding and land issues'.
SINGAPORE - The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) has debunked claims online that the Republic had recently launched the world's first floating prison.
This comes after several social media posts went viral, suggesting that the facility located on water 500m off Singapore's coast would solve overcrowding and land issues.
In one such post on Instagram, the facility was described as being 'equipped with AI surveillance, biometric security, robotic patrols, and no traditional bars — just geofenced digital boundaries'. It purportedly could house over 2,000 inmates.
The post has garnered over 9,000 likes since it was shared on July 15.
Another post with more than 7,000 likes, first posted on July 13, claimed that the move was to 'solve overcrowding and land issues', touting the facility to be 'the future of urban incarceration'.
SPS said it is aware of such posts being circulated online.
'This is untrue. Neither have we had any discussions or plans for such, nor is there a need,' it said.
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'We urge members of the public not to spread misinformation, nor to be taken in by such wild stories, and refer instead to SPS's website and social media platforms for official information,' it added.
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