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CNA
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: Over 900 fake Facebook accounts posted 5,000 comments in a day targeting news coverage of foreign interference
SINGAPORE: More than 900 inauthentic Facebook accounts posting over 5,000 comments were detected in a roughly one-day period after the government first alerted the public to foreign posts on religion and politics, recent checks by CNA have found. CNA's latest analysis comes after it previously reported on Apr 24 that hundreds of fake Facebook accounts and bots were spreading anti-People's Action Party (PAP) and anti-Workers' Party (WP) sentiments. CNA conducted another round of checks after it detected a hive of social media activity around news posts on race and politics, following the government's announcement at 10pm on Apr 25 that foreigners had posted online election advertisements urging Singaporeans to vote along religious lines. The government had directed Meta to block Singapore users' access to several posts made by two Malaysian politicians, as well as a former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee. For the latest analysis, CNA looked at 35 Facebook posts uploaded between late Apr 25 and early Apr 27 related to the content about these news developments. These include three from Islamic religious teacher Noor Deros, one from "Zai Nal" - belonging to the former ISA detainee - and one from the WP. The remainder are posts by news outlets CNA (12), Mothership (10) and The Straits Times (eight). These posts involve responses or reactions to the government's move, as well as the news outlets' reporting of comments by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and WP chief Pritam Singh on the foreign interference. CNA then scanned 8,991 comments made by 2,915 unique Facebook accounts on these posts. Of the 8,991 comments made, 5,201 - or 58 per cent - were deemed to be from inauthentic accounts, meaning they were fake or suspected to be fake. A total of 911 out of the 2,915 accounts that posted the comments, or 31 per cent, were identified as inauthentic. Another 1,427 accounts - or 49 per cent - were flagged as real accounts, while the authenticity of the remaining 577 accounts could not be determined. The overall data suggest the fake accounts are part of a coordinated inauthentic campaign, with synchronised comment bursts, copy-pasted messages across accounts, and a tightly interconnected network of fake personas. Fifteen of the 911 inauthentic accounts detected posted between 30 to more than 70 comments each, while around 290 of them posted only a single comment. This suggests a mix of roles: A core group of active operators and many auxiliary accounts likely created to lend additional voices in one or two comment threads. Slightly over one-quarter (26.9 per cent) of the 5,201 inauthentic comments were classified as anti-opposition attacks, followed by religious and political controversy (23.9 per cent), and anti-establishment and conspiracy (19.1 per cent). An inauthentic comment only means that the comment was made by a fake account. It does not immediately mean that the content of these comments are false, though further analysis of the content shows half-truths and misinformation being used in some cases. CNA is unable to determine where these fake accounts originate from, as users can easily lie during account registration or spoof their locations through various methods. Categories of fake comments Anti-opposition attacks Many bots directly attacked WP figures or supporters with derogatory language. These comments often used insults to demean and discredit. Religious and political controversy Comments in this category linked religion to politics and typically also took on a partisan nature, either by attacking WP for mixing religion with politics, or accusing the PAP of using this issue to smear the opposition. For example, one coordinated message spread by multiple accounts said WP was being desperate to win votes by promoting religious disharmony. On the other hand, others said the PAP was trying to bring religious issues into the election. Anti-establishment and conspiracy The criticisms against the PAP generally accuse the ruling party of hypocrisy, with some saying it is the one playing the race card. Also in the mix are conspiracy themes, with bot accounts suggesting that China or Malaysia may be behind the attempts to influence the election. Racial and minority issues Posts in this category appear to be aimed at sowing suspicion or eroding trust between races. For example, some fake accounts would try to create resentment among Malay voters by suggesting they were being used by either party. Calls for religious neutrality In this category, bots try to push or repeat messages about the dangers of mixing religion with politics. While the comments may be seen as trying to urge caution, the fact that these were posted by fake accounts suggests the bots may be attempting to reinforce establishment messages. For example, one comment said: 'like what the article say 'We must not mix religion and politics. Singapore is a secular state. Our institutions serve Singaporeans equally. Bringing religion into politics will undermine social cohesion and harmony, as we have seen in other countries with race- or religion-based politics.'' BOTS TARGETED CNA THE MOST Telltale signs of inauthentic accounts include being recently created, having few connections, and posting mainly on a single type of content, such as those that attack a political party and its candidates. They also tend to be locked and lack any original posts, such as photos of someone's day. Bots, on the other hand, are multiple fake accounts managed by individuals, which also suggest a more coordinated attempt to spread a certain messaging on the platform. They are also known to make repeated comments or replies, similar to techniques used by spammers. Sometimes, multiple fake accounts end up posting similar comments, albeit with slight variations to avoid detection. Both types of behaviour run afoul of Facebook's community standards. According to Facebook's website, the platform also requires users to provide real names on profiles to ensure they always know who they are connecting with. 'This helps keep our community safe,' its name and birthday policy states. The latest analysis indicated that CNA's posts were the most targeted by the bot army, with 2,578 inauthentic comments on the 12 CNA Facebook posts. This accounted for nearly half the 5,201 inauthentic comments. This is indicative of how bot campaigns typically work: Bots are not interested in preaching to the choir. HIGHLY SYNCHRONISED POSTING OF COMMENTS Posting of the comments was found to be highly synchronised, particularly between 10am to 3pm on Apr 26, when the bot accounts as a whole were found to have posted comments most frequently. It was common to see many different fake accounts commenting within minutes of each other on the same post right after it went up. For example, a 10-minute window of around 2.35pm to 2.45pm on Apr 26 saw 90 distinct fake accounts post comments. There was also a burst of 157 inauthentic comments from 10pm to 11pm on Apr 25, night when news of the government's statement broke. The bot tactics here reflect attempts to align with local audience attention, and to influence public opinion overnight through setting narratives by morning, and then reinforcing them during the day. Analysis of the timings of the comments revealed orchestrated burst patterns. The bot network could mobilise at least 10 or more distinct accounts within a 10-minute window repeatedly. TOP BOT AND SUPERSPREADERS The top bot detected in this campaign is Facebook user 'Angeline Tan', who posted 71 times in a four-and-a-half hour span between 8.19pm on Apr 26 and 12.54am on Apr 27. The user's 71 comments were posted on just two CNA posts uploaded on Apr 26 - a video post of Mr Wong's comments during a press conference on the foreign interference, and another earlier video post of Mr Singh's comments to the media on the same matter. A handful of inauthentic accounts were also identified as superspreaders because they appeared to comment on each of these posts, and whose Facebook connections show that they are affiliated to a large number of suspicious accounts that also posted similar messages, also known as 'co-commenting'. This could mean that they may be the main operators of these bot networks, or that automated bots take the cue from them. The top five accounts based on the number of unique accounts they co-commented with are 'Low SiewFai', 'Maetiara Ismail', 'PS FU', 'Vincent Tang' and 'Dunkie Rookie', all of which are connected to at least 700 other inauthentic accounts. These accounts each engaged in between 10 and 16 targeted comment threads, ensuring that the narratives permeated multiple audiences. Low SiewFai, for instance, connected to 776 other suspect accounts and was active in at least 16 different posts, with 26 comments. The user's comments were nearly identical. CNA's checks also found at least 179 distinct comments that were repeated word for word by multiple accounts. Many appear to be pre-written scripts or talking points injected into discussions. One example, posted 43 times, is: 'Details of the earlier conversation between WP and the former religious teacher - available here for those interested:'. Another example, posted 38 times, is: 'Full video of the conversation between Mr. Noor Deros and #WP available here for those interested:'. Both examples were appended with spam links. The Ministry of Digital Development and Information has earlier said it was looking into the fake accounts, in response to CNA's report on Apr 24. 'We will continue to monitor the online space for foreign interference and will act on content that is in breach of our laws. We urge the public to be discerning consumers of information,' it said.
CNA
28-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
GE2025: WP open to meet anyone even though may not agree with their views, says Faisal Manap
The Workers' Party (WP) candidate for Tampines GRC Faisal Manap says he is open to meet anyone, especially those from minority groups, even though he may not agree with their views. Malaysia-based religious teacher Noor Deros claimed last week that he met WP candidates to urge them to prioritise the rights of the Malay-Muslim community in Singapore. Muhammad Bahajjaj with more.
Malay Mail
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Singapore Muslim affairs minister: Race and religion must never be used for political gain
SINGAPORE, April 27 — Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said Singapore must not allow race or religion to be exploited for political gain. He warned that foreign interference in the general election, particularly through divisive language, could erode the trust Singapore has built, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported yesterday. 'Disagreement must never become division. If we are not careful, those cracks can deepen,' he added. Masagos, also the People's Action Party's (PAP) anchor candidate for Tampines GRC, made these comments after the government took action against foreign attempts to influence the election, directing Meta to block such efforts. The Singapore government announced Friday that it had directed Meta to block access to Facebook posts made by two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act detainee who is now an Australian citizen. The posts had criticised Singapore's handling of religious issues and called on voters to make their choices based on religious grounds. On Saturday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also raised concerns about social media posts, including one by a local activist urging Muslims to support candidates advancing a religious agenda. While he did not name anyone, Islamic teacher Noor Deros recently drew attention with posts listing political demands and claiming meetings with Workers' Party Malay candidates. According to CNA, Noor Deros is not an accredited ustaz in Singapore and is now based in Malaysia. He had reportedly posted criticisms of Masagos in the past, particularly on issues concerning Malay-Muslim affairs. Singapore's Asatizah Recognition Board (ARB) issued a statement yesterday, clarifying that recent claims identifying Noor Deros as a Singapore Islamic teacher were 'inaccurate and misleading'. The board explained that Noor Deros had never been recognised under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) and was therefore not permitted to preach in Singapore. Although he had applied for recognition in 2017, his application was rejected due to his refusal to comply with the ARS code of ethics, despite counselling from the board, the ARB added, without providing further details. Masagos, also the Minister for Social and Family Development, stated that foreign interference in Singapore's elections, especially attempts to influence voters based on race or religion, undermines the trust the nation has worked hard to establish. He emphasised that Singapore's harmony 'did not come easy' and was cultivated over decades through mutual respect and a collective commitment to progress together. 'Harmony is precious and rare. We must never take it for granted. It takes constant effort to protect our unity and keep at it at the heart of our identity,' he said.
Malay Mail
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Singapore minister: Race and religion must never be used for political gain
SINGAPORE, April 27 — Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said Singapore must not allow race or religion to be exploited for political gain. He warned that foreign interference in the general election, particularly through divisive language, could erode the trust Singapore has built, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported yesterday. 'Disagreement must never become division. If we are not careful, those cracks can deepen,' he added. Masagos, also the People's Action Party's (PAP) anchor candidate for Tampines GRC, made these comments after the government took action against foreign attempts to influence the election, directing Meta to block such efforts. The Singapore government announced Friday that it had directed Meta to block access to Facebook posts made by two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act detainee who is now an Australian citizen. The posts had criticised Singapore's handling of religious issues and called on voters to make their choices based on religious grounds. On Saturday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also raised concerns about social media posts, including one by a local activist urging Muslims to support candidates advancing a religious agenda. While he did not name anyone, Islamic teacher Noor Deros recently drew attention with posts listing political demands and claiming meetings with Workers' Party Malay candidates. According to CNA, Noor Deros is not an accredited ustaz in Singapore and is now based in Malaysia. He had reportedly posted criticisms of Masagos in the past, particularly on issues concerning Malay-Muslim affairs. Singapore's Asatizah Recognition Board (ARB) issued a statement yesterday, clarifying that recent claims identifying Noor Deros as a Singapore Islamic teacher were 'inaccurate and misleading'. The board explained that Noor Deros had never been recognised under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) and was therefore not permitted to preach in Singapore. Although he had applied for recognition in 2017, his application was rejected due to his refusal to comply with the ARS code of ethics, despite counselling from the board, the ARB added, without providing further details. Masagos, also the Minister for Social and Family Development, stated that foreign interference in Singapore's elections, especially attempts to influence voters based on race or religion, undermines the trust the nation has worked hard to establish. He emphasised that Singapore's harmony 'did not come easy' and was cultivated over decades through mutual respect and a collective commitment to progress together. 'Harmony is precious and rare. We must never take it for granted. It takes constant effort to protect our unity and keep at it at the heart of our identity,' he said.
Malay Mail
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
‘Singaporeans must decide their own politics': PM Wong slams foreign attempts to manipulate voters along religious lines
SINGAPORE, April 26 — Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said foreigners telling Singaporeans to vote along religious lines have 'crossed the line', stressing that external players must not be allowed to exploit divisions in the country. Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Centre yesterday, Wong welcomed the 'clear consensus' from opposition parties in rejecting foreign interference in Singapore's elections. According to Channel News Asia (CNA), he also urged all political leaders to stand firm against endorsements from overseas. Wong said he was addressing the media midway through the General Election 2025 campaign in his capacity as Prime Minister, as the issue touches on 'a matter of national interest'. His comments come after the Singapore government announced yesterday that it had directed Meta to block access to Facebook posts made by two Malaysian politicians and a former Internal Security Act detainee who is now an Australian citizen. The posts had criticised Singapore's handling of religious issues and called on voters to make their choices based on religious grounds. 'Singaporeans may have different views about issues, but we cannot allow external actors to exploit whatever differences we may have to weaken us or to advance their own interests,' he was quoted as saying. 'Singapore's politics must be for Singaporeans alone to decide.' Access to the posts has been blocked and Wong warned that authorities will act firmly against any similar activities, noting it is an offence under the Parliamentary Elections Act for foreigners to participate in election activities or publish election advertising. Beyond foreign interference, Wong also flagged concerns over local attempts to mix religion and politics, citing recent social media posts by Islamic religious teacher Noor Deros calling for Muslims to vote based on religious agendas. At the press conference, Wong also raised concerns about social media posts, including one by a local activist urging Muslims to support candidates advancing a religious agenda. While he did not name anyone, Islamic teacher Noor Deros recently drew attention with posts listing political demands and claiming meetings with Workers' Party Malay candidates. Wong said such calls must be rejected, regardless of which religion is involved. He stressed that bringing religion into politics would fracture the common space, worsen divisions during elections, and opens the door for external forces to exploit tensions. While engagement on race and religion remains important, he warned against slipping into identity politics, which he called dangerous. 'When one group jostles aggressively to assert its identity, others will organise and start to jostle back, and you can see how these play out in countries everywhere,' Wong told the press. 'The minority groups will fail to get what they want, because the majority group will push back strongly and the minorities will find their space constricted. At the same time, the majority group will also live in the most unhappy society where every issue comes down to race and religion. 'So no one is happy, no one wins. In the end, we will be more divided than before and Singaporeans, all of us, will pay the price.' Wong urged all political parties to make clear not just their opposition to foreign interference, but also their commitment to two core principles: rejecting identity politics and keeping religion out of politics. 'At the end of the day, whatever differences, we are all Singaporeans first and foremost,' he said. Opposition leaders also weighed in, with the Workers' Party stressing that it had no control over foreign individuals expressing support for its candidates, and that no promises or agreements were made with Noor Deros — or anyone else — in return. He said the cross-party statements reflected a 'clear consensus' on the need to stand firm against foreign influence. CNA reported that Wong also warned that issues beyond elections, including foreign policy stances, could hurt Singapore's national interest. Referring to Noor Deros' posts, Wong said the religious teacher had taken 'very extreme positions on foreign policy', accusing America and Israel of being 'the masterminds of terrorism'. He added that Noor, a Singaporean based in Malaysia, had pushed for expanding Islamic principles 'at the expense of shrinking the common space that other faiths and communities in Singapore share'. 'These are positions that will go against our national interest,' said Wong.
