New Delhi/Singapore: The Singapore government has taken a tough stance against those spreading inflammatory and divisive material against the Indian community. The government has ordered social media platforms to block people’s access to content that targets the Indian community and tries to harm the country’s multicultural identity. Singapore believes that such content largely originated through online information systems linked to China.
Singapore government took a big step
The High Commission of Singapore in India gave information in this regard on Saturday. According to a statement from Singapore’s Home Ministry, under the Online Criminal Harms Act 2023, the Singapore Police Force has issued ‘disabling directions’ against certain posts being circulated on YouTube, Facebook and X. Under these instructions, social media companies will have to ensure that Singapore users cannot access these posts. The government says that these posts were trying to spread hatred and misconceptions against the Indian community.
Provocative claims made in posts from China
According to the Home Ministry, some narratives started spreading in Chinese online information space last month, claiming that Singapore is concerned about its cultural identity and ethnic politics. Shortly thereafter, material began appearing on the Internet questioning Singapore’s cultural diversity and attempting to portray the country as being ‘filled’ with Indians. The government said that many misleading and inflammatory claims were made in these posts.
Attempt to create hatred towards Indians
In these contents coming from China, it was said that Singapore’s multi-racial policy is a sham system created only to impress Western countries. Some posts also claimed that the reason for the country’s stability is not its multi-racial policy, but the majority population of Chinese origin. Additionally, some material alleged that the number of Indian-origin politicians in Singapore was increasing and that they would work in favor of Indian immigrants.
Chinese culture was praised in many posts
At the same time, it was also said in some posts that Singapore’s culture is basically Chinese culture and if the government continues to ignore the growing influence of the Indian community while maintaining distance from China, it could have negative consequences. The Singapore government completely rejected these claims, saying that the country neither accepts the idea of racial superiority nor xenophobia. The government clearly said that any attempt to pit any community against another community will be strictly stopped.
Singapore government made this appeal to the public
The statement said that when such attacks are carried out from a foreign source, they become even more serious. The Government will not tolerate any activity that harms social unity, racial harmony and national cohesion and will take firm action in such cases. The Singapore government has also appealed to citizens not to share information found on social media without checking it. People have been asked to beware of rumors and inflammatory material and together make any attempt to divide the society unsuccessful.
SK Sharma is a content writer who writes on news, entertainment, and lifestyle topics. She has over four years of experience and is known for conveying information in simple and clear language.
