SINGAPORE (Bernama): Singapore authorities have issued Disabling Directions (DDs) to block access to 14 social media posts believed to promote xenophobia, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on Saturday.
In a statement, it said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) had issued DD under the Online Criminal Harms Act 2023 (OCHA) to curb content circulating on YouTube, Facebook and X that targets the Indian community and undermines Singapore’s model of multiculturalism.
The DD requires the platforms to take all reasonable steps to disable access by Singapore users to these posts, it said.
"Investigations revealed that the content likely originated from a China-based platform and was subsequently carried on other platforms and websites.
"These are malicious efforts to sow discord by inciting ill-will against the Indian community in Singapore," it said.
The MHA said investigations found that the posts were likely to constitute an offence under Section 298A of the Penal Code 1871, for knowingly promoting feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different racial groups or committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different racial groups in Singapore.
The ministry said that Singapore firmly opposes nativism and xenophobia, and any attempt to pit one community against another must be strongly rejected.
"The Government takes a serious view of threats to our social cohesion and racial harmony, including from external actors, and will act resolutely against them," it added.
-- BERNAMA
