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Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X were issued account restriction directions under the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act
The directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs are targeted at 95 accounts linked to Guo Wengui, a businessman from China
The accounts were connected to Guo and overseas political groups with which he has links
They published more than 120 video posts alleging foreign interference in Singapore's leadership transition
The ministry warned that such campaigns could undermine sovereignty, social cohesion and trust in democratic processes and public institutions
SINGAPORE — Five social media platforms have been issued with account restriction directions under the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act (Fica) over user accounts linked to Guo Wengui, a businessman from China who has been convicted of fraud in the United States.
These platforms are Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).
Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday (July 19) that the directions require the platforms to "take all reasonable steps" in blocking 95 online accounts from being accessible to Singapore users.
The accounts on the various platforms published more than 120 video posts on Singapore's leadership transition.
"These posts were published in a coordinated manner and contained narratives, which alleged that Singapore was in the pocket of a foreign actor and that the foreign actor was behind the scenes in the selection of Singapore’s fourth-generation leader," the ministry said in a media release. It did not say who this "foreign actor" is.
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Who is Guo Wengui, and why is Singapore using its foreign interference law against a network linked to him?
"Our investigations have found that these 92 accounts are part of a network linked to a foreigner, Guo Wengui, and his affiliated organisations, the New Federal State of China and the Himalaya Supervisory Organisation (HSO)."
MHA said the remaining three accounts belong to a Singapore chapter called Himalaya Singapore under HSO.
Guo, an exiled businessman and outspoken critic of Beijing, was convicted on Tuesday in his US trial on nine charges, including racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud, for stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from online followers.
Guo and his groups oppose China's political system and aim to overthrow the Chinese Communist Party.
The New Federal State of China is a right-wing political and lobby group created by Guo and Steve Bannon, an American political strategist now serving time in prison who also founded the HSO, a non-governmental organisation supporting the group.
MHA cited a 2021 study by social media analytics firm Graphika, which found Guo at the centre of a large network of media entities and social media accounts spreading disinformation across multiple platforms.
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X were issued account restriction directions under the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act
The directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs are targeted at 95 accounts linked to Guo Wengui, a businessman from China
The accounts were connected to Guo and overseas political groups with which he has links
They published more than 120 video posts alleging foreign interference in Singapore's leadership transition
The ministry warned that such campaigns could undermine sovereignty, social cohesion and trust in democratic processes and public institutions
SINGAPORE — Five social media platforms have been issued with account restriction directions under the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act (Fica) over user accounts linked to Guo Wengui, a businessman from China who has been convicted of fraud in the United States.
These platforms are Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).
Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday (July 19) that the directions require the platforms to "take all reasonable steps" in blocking 95 online accounts from being accessible to Singapore users.
The accounts on the various platforms published more than 120 video posts on Singapore's leadership transition.
"These posts were published in a coordinated manner and contained narratives, which alleged that Singapore was in the pocket of a foreign actor and that the foreign actor was behind the scenes in the selection of Singapore’s fourth-generation leader," the ministry said in a media release. It did not say who this "foreign actor" is.
READ ALSO
Who is Guo Wengui, and why is Singapore using its foreign interference law against a network linked to him?
"Our investigations have found that these 92 accounts are part of a network linked to a foreigner, Guo Wengui, and his affiliated organisations, the New Federal State of China and the Himalaya Supervisory Organisation (HSO)."
MHA said the remaining three accounts belong to a Singapore chapter called Himalaya Singapore under HSO.
Guo, an exiled businessman and outspoken critic of Beijing, was convicted on Tuesday in his US trial on nine charges, including racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud, for stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from online followers.
Guo and his groups oppose China's political system and aim to overthrow the Chinese Communist Party.
The New Federal State of China is a right-wing political and lobby group created by Guo and Steve Bannon, an American political strategist now serving time in prison who also founded the HSO, a non-governmental organisation supporting the group.
MHA cited a 2021 study by social media analytics firm Graphika, which found Guo at the centre of a large network of media entities and social media accounts spreading disinformation across multiple platforms.
