Online platforms have halved time it takes for Singaporeans to be self-radicalised: ISD
The Internal Security Department said it is seeing an emerging trend of evolving technologies like AI and 3D printing being found in youth self-radicalisation cases in Singapore.
SINGAPORE – Before 2015, it used to take an average of 24 months for someone in Singapore to be self-radicalised.
With social media, cases between 2021 and 2025 took an average of just 12 months, said the Internal Security Department (ISD) in its annual report on terrorism released on July 29.
It added that innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) risk complicating the terrorist threat both globally and locally.
In two cases here, AI chatbots were used for terrorism-related activities.
ISD's investigations found that many self-radicalised Singaporeans had unintentionally stumbled upon extremist materials online, as social media algorithms recommended similar content to what they had recently viewed.
Some of this was radical content and resulted in many recent cases taking only a few months to be self-radicalised, said ISD.
It cited a case involving a 15-year-old girl here who was issued a restriction order in February.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD
Asia Extreme weather turns Beijing into rain trap; 30 killed, over 80,000 evacuated
Asia Meeting between Cambodian-Thai militaries postponed, as acting Thai PM says border calm
Singapore NDP 2025: Enhanced security measures to be put in place around the Padang
Business SIA shares tumble after 59% first-quarter profit slide
Singapore Motorcyclist hurt after car crashes into bollard next to Clementi coffee shop
Sport World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro among list of top names for Singapore football coach
Her radicalisation took mere weeks.
She had seen ISIS propaganda online in June 2023, pledged allegiance to the terrorist group a month later and
wanted to marry an ISIS fighter . She started at least eight online relationships with supporters of ISIS and was the first female teen to be dealt with under the Internal Security Act.
The report highlighted the role of social media and online platforms like Telegram, Reddit, Discord, Roblox and Bitchute, with extremist groups using memes and slang to promote their propaganda.
ISD said it has seen an increasing variety of such platforms being featured in cases of self-radicalised individuals here, especially in instances involving youth.
Technology featured prominently in two recent cases involving youth.
One was an ISIS supporter, while the other was a supporter of far-right extremism (FRE).
Both were self-radicalised 17-year-olds who turned to AI chatbots for their terrorism-related activities.
ISD said it is seeing an emerging trend of evolving technologies like AI and 3D printing being found in youth self-radicalisation cases here.
The ISIS supporter who was detained in September 2024 had used an AI chatbot to generate a bai'ah, or oath of allegiance, to ISIS.
After taking the pledge,
he
had planned to kill non-Muslims in Tampines during the September school holidays.
He also used the AI chatbot to generate a declaration of armed jihad against non-Muslims to inspire other Muslims in Singapore to engage in armed violence.
The other teen, who was an FRE supporter detained in March, had been inspired by the shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March 2019.
He searched for instructions on an AI chatbot about producing ammunition and considered 3D-printing his own firearms to carry out attacks here.
He identified five mosques in Jurong West, Clementi, Margaret Drive, Admiralty Road and Beach Road as potential targets and had
planned to kill at least 100 Muslims as they were leaving after Friday prayers.
ISD said even though there is no indication that such evolving technologies have been used in any terrorist attack plot in Singapore, it is expected that terrorists will exploit them given how easily accessible such tools are.
ISD said there is a need for increased cooperation between the public and private sectors, especially with technology and social media companies, to create a safer online environment.
It noted that technology companies have increased efforts to prevent and disrupt terrorists' abuse of their platforms and services, such as by regulating and removing harmful content on social media platforms.
But it added: 'However, technology companies could continue to explore further efforts in this area, including collaboration with religious and community organisations, to guide users in navigating the digital space and positively influence the online discourse.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
8 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Channelling Hannibal Lecter, Anthony Hopkins roasts Kim Kardashian's latest promotion
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox You know your product is 'sick' when Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter himself gives it his seal of approval. US celebrity and influencer Kim Kardashian's multibillion-dollar company Skims recently rolled out a US$48 (S$62) piece of headgear that it claims will sculpt the face – scoop up the cheeks, neck and chin and hold them in place - as you sleep . It bears a close resemblance to a post-surgery compression garment with its chin wrap and Velcro closures. Reactions to this 'shapewear' for the face have been swift, sharp and sweeping, so much so that Anthony Hopkins – the award-winning actor who played the prolific serial killer Hannibal Lecter in the movie Silence Of The Lambs – joined in the fun. Many have compared the face wrap to the muzzle-like, brownish tan mask strapped around the head of Dr Lecter in a scene from the movie where a senator is questioning him about her missing daughter. Channelling that scene, Hopkins posted his 'review' of Kardashian's latest promotion . 'Hello Kim. I'm already feeling 10 years younger,' Hopkins, speaking with Dr Lecter's indecipherable stare and metallic voice, said in the video, which has been viewed over 37 million times. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Ong Beng Seng to be sentenced on Aug 15, prosecution does not object to fine due to his poor health Singapore Recap: Ong Beng Seng pleads guilty to abetting obstruction of justice in case linked to Iswaran Singapore Electric car-sharing firm BlueSG to wind down current operations on Aug 8 Singapore Smooth traffic after Tanjong Katong South Road fully reopens following sinkhole incident Singapore Car passenger dies after accident involving bus in Yishun Singapore Man admits punching elderly cabby's eye in road rage incident, causing long-term injuries Life Char kway teow in India? Meet the Singaporeans bringing local food to Mumbai Singapore ICA to roll out new group feature in electronic change of address service from Aug 15 He then made the same menacing slurping sound Dr Lecter used to taunt the senator with, and then closed it with a flat 'goodbye'. In the video's caption, Hopkins wrote, in a call back to one of his memorable double entendres in the movie: 'Thank you, Kim. Don't be afraid to come over for dinner.' Kardashian's tongue-in-cheek response to Hopkins' video was: 'I'm screaming!!!!' Beyond this comedic tit-for-tat, the Kardashian head gear has set off a fierce debate about advertising and women's insecurities. Some have hailed it as the future of non-invasive facial sculpting, but others have accused Kardashian and her US$4 billion (S$5 billion) company of making claims not grounded in science and making women more insecure about their looks. Skims is trying to rebrand the face wrap typically used after intensive cosmetic surgery as a 'must-have' that can be used 'every day' to 'shape and sculpt' the face. But medical professionals have questioned the claims. Dr Anna Andrienko, an aesthetic doctor specialising in cosmetic procedures, told the BBC that while these garments 'may offer some temporary sculpting or de-puffing effects due to pressure and heat retention', the results are far from permanent. 'These face wraps do not deliver lasting contouring or skin-tightening results,' she said. 'At best, they can reduce fluid retention short term. At worst, overuse may lead to skin irritation, breakouts, or circulation issues if worn too tightly or for prolonged periods.' Casual observers say the product is contributing to 'bad self-esteem among young people'. It just adds to the many questionable beauty trends that have had people scraping, pulling and pinching at their face, or taping over their lips at night just so they can feel good when they wake up in the morning, they say. 'What that says to me is that this pressure to look beautiful has become so consuming that there is not even a moment of our day - while we are sleeping - that has not been commodified for the project of becoming more beautiful,' Ms Jessica DeFino, a beauty critic and writer of the Review of Beauty newsletter, said.
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
DBS Foundation in tie-up with IMDA to accelerate digital inclusivity for the elderly
[SINGAPORE] 'I am a dad planning for a three-day family trip to Bangkok with my wife and 10-year-old son. Create an itinerary in bullet points.' 'Create a colourful and cute image of a big Hello Kitty sitting on top of a Merlion for my daughter's artwork.' The above are not random questions but prompts taught at a generative artificial intelligence (AI) workshop conducted by DBS Foundation and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on Monday (Aug 4). The SG Digital Society Report 2023 stated that while Singapore is among the most digitally inclusive nations in the world, many seniors, who make up close to 20 per cent of citizens in Singapore, need more support in adopting modern technology as only 45 per cent of them are willing to try out modern technologies. This is compared with 65 per cent of Singaporeans aged 15 to 59. Singapore society is projected to become super-aged by 2026, and by 2030, one in four people in Singapore will be aged 65 and above. Hence, the new three-year partnership's key focus will be to increase Gen AI literacy and proficiency among seniors and vulnerable individuals. Through these efforts, the organisations aim to collectively reach out to 250,000 individuals – including senior citizens, youth, and individuals with special needs. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up At the workshop, which included about 30 people above 60-years-old from Lions Befrienders, Lim Him Chuan, DBS Singapore country head, said it is not true that people in the older age group have less interest in technology. 'The seniors want to be protected from scams and frauds but continue to be engaged.' He added: 'Besides widening access to technology, we are enabling beneficiaries to understand what Gen AI is and how it works, as well as to boost their confidence to navigate it confidently.' Hence, DBS Foundation is also contributing S$3 million (inclusive of the government's dollar-for-dollar matching) to the national Digital for Life (DfL) fund. Jasmin Lau, minister of state for digital development and information, was guest of honour at the DBS Foundation Generative AI Workshop. The volunteers from the bank and DBS' brand ambassador and Olympic medallist Max Maeder were also on site to participate in activities with the elderly, as well as spread the message to have fun while learning Gen AI. As Karen Ngui, head of DBS Foundation and DBS Group Strategic Marketing and Communications, said: 'This requires a deliberate, collective, whole-of-society effort.' Retiree Lim Siew Gin said that she will be using Gen AI to plan her upcoming holiday. The 70-year-old participant added: 'Everything (nowadays) is digital so we (need to) learn and improve.' This renewed partnership builds on an earlier partnership between DBS Foundation and IMDA in 2022 where the former, supported by the government's dollar-for-dollar matching, contributed S$1 million to the DfL movement and step up its volunteer participation to drive digital literacy training.
Online Citizen
a day ago
- Online Citizen
BBC report: Heroic sinkhole rescue sparks renewed scrutiny of migrant workers' rights in Singapore
Seven migrant workers who rescued a woman from a sinkhole on Tanjong Katong Road on 26 July 2025 have drawn fresh attention to the conditions these workers face in Singapore. According to BBC journalist Kelly Ng's report published on 1 August 2025, the dramatic rescue has renewed calls for reforms addressing systemic issues that have lingered for decades. When a 3m deep sinkhole swallowed a black Mazda, the men acted without hesitation. Construction site foreman Suppiah Pitchai Udaiyappan told reporters, 'I was scared, but every feeling was that this woman must be rescued first.' Video footage of the rescue quickly spread online, earning the workers praise as heroes. Singaporeans commended the swift actions of the workers, highlighting the danger posed by the unstable terrain. Videos also showed workers erecting barricades around the sinkhole shortly after the car was pulled out. Yet many advocates argue such praise often masks the difficult realities they endure daily. Call to ban lorry transport for migrant workers Singapore's rapid economic growth is built on migrant workers, with around 1.17 million labourers from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, and other lower-income nations. They fill low-wage, labour-intensive roles shunned by Singaporeans, working mainly in construction, shipyards, and manufacturing. Advocacy groups note that many earn as little as S$300 a month and live in crowded dormitories far from residential areas. One of the most criticised practices is transporting workers in the back of open flat-bed trucks. Although Singapore prohibits people from riding in cargo areas generally, an exception exists for workers employed by the truck owners. Sometimes, up to 12 workers are packed into trucks without seatbelts, leading to frequent accidents. Tragic consequences of lorry transport In April 2021, two foreign workers died and more than a dozen were injured in a collision involving such trucks. Last year alone, at least four migrant workers died and over 400 were injured in similar accidents. Despite repeated debates and public outcry, Singapore has not banned the transport of migrant workers in lorries. The government argues that small businesses cannot easily switch to alternative transport without risking closures and delays. During February 2025 parliamentary sitting, then-Senior Minister of State for Transport Khor defended the practice, citing bus driver shortages and logistical challenges. Authorities have instead encouraged safer practices, such as using buses where possible and installing speed limiters on lorries. However, advocacy groups maintain that these measures fall short and continue to push for a complete ban. Rights group Workers Make Possible (WMP) suggests that the levies collected from foreign workers could subsidise safer transport options. 'Other migrant-reliant nations like the UAE and Bahrain have outlawed this practice,' said Suraendher Kumarr, a member of the group. Activists argue that Singapore's current approach prioritises employers' needs over basic safety. Public gestures called 'tokenism' Earlier this week, Singapore's manpower ministry presented commemorative coins to the seven rescuers. A ministry spokesman described their actions as 'a very good example of how migrant workers help society in general.' However, WMP's Kumarr countered that no amount of symbolic appreciation should overshadow the exploitative economic structures in place. Many online commenters echoed this, calling for the men to receive financial rewards or even permanent residency. The migrant rights group Its Raining Raincoats announced that S$72,000 has been raised from 1,639 donors for the rescuers. AKM Mohsin, who runs an activity centre for Bangladeshi workers, said: 'So many times, we have seen how migrant workers risk their lives to rescue citizens, including children, but their own human rights are constantly violated.' Longstanding struggle for permanent change During the Covid pandemic in 2020, cramped dormitories became hotbeds for the virus, revealing unsafe living conditions that activists had warned about for years. Although authorities pledged improvements, many issues persist, including the lack of a minimum wage and insufficient protections for whistleblowers. Work permit holders like Udaiyappan, who has worked in Singapore for 22 years, remain ineligible for permanent residency. They must also seek government approval to marry Singaporeans. Some Singaporeans still see migrant workers as separate and inferior, say advocates. In 2008, a plan to build a migrant dormitory in Serangoon Gardens met fierce resistance from residents, who petitioned against its construction. Authorities reduced its size and built a separate access road to placate residents' concerns. Calls for meaningful reform Despite persistent inequalities, some initiatives aim to bridge divides. Mohsin's centre provides migrant workers space to write, dance, and perform, while local volunteers help publish and translate their works. Yet these efforts remain small compared to the larger systemic issues. Alex Au, vice president of advocacy group Transient Workers Count Too, said: 'We basically see them as a different class of people. Servants are supposed to leap to the aid of their masters.' Rights groups continue to push for a living wage, safer transport, and residency pathways to better recognise migrant workers' vital contributions. As Singapore's economy thrives on their labour, advocates argue that the country must ensure these workers share the security and dignity they help build.
