Singapore Directs Social Media Platforms To Restrict Posts Targeting Indian Community
Singapore orders platforms to block posts targeting Indians online.
The Singapore government has directed major social media platforms to block access to a series of online posts targeting the country's Indian community, citing concerns that the content could undermine racial harmony and social cohesion. Authorities said the posts, believed to have originated overseas, sought to sow division within Singapore's multicultural society.
According to Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), police issued disabling directions to YouTube, Facebook and X under the country's Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA). The order requires the platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent users in Singapore from accessing 14 identified posts. Officials said the content appeared designed to inflame racial tensions and challenge the country's long-standing commitment to multiculturalism.
Speaking at a community event on Saturday, Edwin Tong said investigations indicated that the material likely originated from a platform based in China before being circulated more widely across multiple websites and social media services. He stressed that Singapore would not tolerate attempts to divide communities along racial lines, particularly when such efforts come from foreign sources.
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Tong said the videos targeted the foundations of Singapore's multiracial society by attempting to create discord between different ethnic groups. He emphasised that every community in Singapore has an equal place in society and that efforts to undermine this principle run counter to the country's values and national identity.
Singapore's population of more than six million people comprises a diverse mix of ethnic groups. Citizens of Chinese descent make up about three-quarters of the population, while Malays account for around 15 per cent and people of Indian origin comprise roughly seven to nine per cent. The country's multicultural framework has long been regarded as a central pillar of social stability and national development.
In its statement, the MHA reiterated that Singapore firmly rejects xenophobia and nativism and warned against attempts to pit one community against another. The ministry described the alleged foreign-origin content as particularly concerning, stating that efforts to inflame racial tensions from outside the country were unacceptable and would be met with firm action under Singapore's laws.
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