The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued Account Restriction Directions (“ARDs”) under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act 2021 (“FICA”) to five social media platforms: X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
They are required to block 95 online accounts on their platforms from being accessible to Singapore end-users.
According to the Ministry, 92 of the 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”).
These 92 accounts have have published over 120 posts in a “coordinated manner and contained narratives which alleged that Singapore is 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 press release on 19 July 2024.
It is understood that the foreign actor refers to the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”).
Coincidentally, one such video had emerged on my TikTok for you page earlier today, insinuating that Singapore was a “money laundering haven” for the Chinese Government.
The remaining three accounts belong to the Singapore chapter of the HSO, Himalaya Singapore.
This is the first use of FICA to direct social media platforms to block accounts on the platforms that have the potential to spread hostile information campaigns.
What is FICA?
As per MHA’s website, FICA introduces countermeasures to prevent, detect and disrupt foreign interference in Singapore’s domestic politics conducted through hostile information campaigns and local proxies, termed as Politically Significant Persons.
MHA has highlighted that hostile information campaigns may seek to “polarise the society of the targeted country, influence its domestic political discourse, and undermine its political sovereignty”.
It provides the Minister for Home Affairs to issue FICA directions to entities, including social media providers, to help authorities investigate and counter hostile communications activities of foreign origin.
FICA was passed by Parliament on 4 October 2021 and assented to by the President on 29 October 2021.
Previous “usage” of FICA
FICA has previously been utilised. In February this year, MHA had designated naturalised Singaporean businessman Phillip Chan Man Ping as a PSP under the act.
Mr Chan had shown “susceptibility to being influenced by foreign actors, and willingness to advance their interests” according to MHA.
In the latest news, it’s reported that the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is set to be designated as PSP due to its “close nexus and symbiotic relationship” with the People’s Action Party (PAP).
Who is Guo Wengui?
Guo Wengui, also known as Miles Guo and other names, is allegedly the voice of many of the accounts than MHA seeks to block.
Originally from China, Guo had amassed a property portfolio that made him China’s 74th richest person by 2014.
Guo had a close relationship with then vice-minister at the Chinese Ministry of State Security, Ma Jian.
Ma has since been jailed for life under corruption charges. This prompted Guo to flee the country for the US.
While in the US, Guo has utilised social media to propagate his criticisms of the CCP. He also became an associate of Stephen Bannon, an ex-White House chief strategist under former president Donald Trump.
It was with the latter that Guo launched the New Federal State of China, which aimed to overthrow the CCP.
On 16 July, Guo was convicted by a US court under fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges, for stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from online followers.
According to Federal Prosecutors in the States, Guo had raised more than USD $1 billion by enticing his followers into investing in various schemes between 2018 to 2023. He had done so under the promise that the investments would go towards challenging the incumbent CCP.
Prosecutors have also revealed that the money he had raised has been used to fund various extravagant purchases, including a 50,000 square foot mansion, a USD $1 million Lamborghini and a USD $37 million yacht.
Why has MHA acted?
MHA has voiced its concern that Guo’s network coordinated actions demonstrate a willingness and capability to spread “false narratives” detrimental to Singapore’s interests.
The timing of the sudden release of such videos have also prompted the Ministry to believe that these actions by the accounts were pre-meditated and deliberately done at a period where Singapore is in a political leadership transition.
As such, the Minister is said to be of the opinion that the conditions under Section 21(1) of FICA, which provides the conditions for the Minister to give an anticipatory direction, are satisfied.
MHA has urged Singaporeans to be discerning when consuming and disseminating information online.
They also add that information should always be fact-checked to ensure accuracy, authenticity and credibility.
Over in TikTok, there’s a drama involving property agents that’s caused by us. Here’s what happened:
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