Similar to other countries around the world, Singapore also has its share of internet trolls whose main job is to defensively comment on social media or other web forums. One such group is the PAP Internet Brigade or PAP IB, as written about in the Tumblr site papbrigade.tumblr.com, as well as other websites.
According to papbrigade.tumblr.com, the PAP IB is composed of youths who are members of PAP. They do their “intelligence” work in shifts starting early in the morning, often using fake accounts. They purposely watch discussions closely, and comment with opposing perspectives when needed, or even post fake news items to mislead readers.
Yes, the presence and activities of the PAP IB should be alarming. Their posts and comments are specifically designed to make it appear to the public that the policies of PAP, as well as PAP MPs are well accepted and appreciated by the general public. But what is perhaps most alarming is that their activities are a direct attack against initiatives by citizens to engage critically with policy-makers, and misrepresent how PAP policy is actually received by the public.
The PAP IB is not a new organization, in fact the seed of it has been in existence even before 2007, when reports concerning a “counter-insurgency” against critics of PAP emerged. This counter-insurgency was led by Ng Eng Hen, the head of the new media committee of PAP. The other members of this committee are Zaqy Mohamad, Baey Yam Keng, Lui Tuck Yew and Josephine Teo.
According to the Tumblr site, one part of team formulates the strategies, and the rest carry it out. More than 20 active members of the party well-versed in the digital world were purportedly directed to anonymously post on blogs and forums in order to refute and deny posts that are against the establishment.
More at
When your defenders are trolls—the PAP Internet Brigade
According to papbrigade.tumblr.com, the PAP IB is composed of youths who are members of PAP. They do their “intelligence” work in shifts starting early in the morning, often using fake accounts. They purposely watch discussions closely, and comment with opposing perspectives when needed, or even post fake news items to mislead readers.
Yes, the presence and activities of the PAP IB should be alarming. Their posts and comments are specifically designed to make it appear to the public that the policies of PAP, as well as PAP MPs are well accepted and appreciated by the general public. But what is perhaps most alarming is that their activities are a direct attack against initiatives by citizens to engage critically with policy-makers, and misrepresent how PAP policy is actually received by the public.
The PAP IB is not a new organization, in fact the seed of it has been in existence even before 2007, when reports concerning a “counter-insurgency” against critics of PAP emerged. This counter-insurgency was led by Ng Eng Hen, the head of the new media committee of PAP. The other members of this committee are Zaqy Mohamad, Baey Yam Keng, Lui Tuck Yew and Josephine Teo.
According to the Tumblr site, one part of team formulates the strategies, and the rest carry it out. More than 20 active members of the party well-versed in the digital world were purportedly directed to anonymously post on blogs and forums in order to refute and deny posts that are against the establishment.
More at
When your defenders are trolls—the PAP Internet Brigade
