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SGCulture3 days ago

Disinformation campaigns out of China: Who’s behind them and why?

The Straits Times reports on independent Chinese content creators producing online posts that criticize Singapore, its politicians, and minority communities, particularly targeting the Indian community. These posts have led to concerns in Singapore, prompting authorities to block 14 such posts. The article explores whether these disinformation efforts are state-sponsored or driven by other factors, and examines why they resonate with audiences in Singapore. It features interviews with Benjamin Ang, an expert in cybersecurity and disinformation, and Tan Dawn Wei, a former China bureau chief for

Independent content creators in China are making online posts disparaging Singapore, its politicians and minorities.

The latter, in particular, has made the authorities here concerned enough to block access to 14 online posts earlier in June, which targeted the Indian community and contained inflammatory narratives about Singapore’s cultural diversity.

If the content isn’t state-sanctioned, what’s driving Chinese content creators to make such posts , and why did it find an audience here?

In this episode, I chat with:

Benjamin Ang, the head of the Centre of Excellence for National Security, Future Issues and Technology at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. He researches cybersecurity, digital security and disinformation, and

Straits Times senior columnist Tan Dawn Wei, who writes about China and its relations with the rest of the world. She was in Beijing for seven years from 2018 as ST’s China bureau chief, covering all aspects of the country, from its domestic politics to its economy.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:58 Difference between state-directed vs organic disinformation

3:56 Clicks for “outrageous” content

9:05 All about the clicks

10:23 "We just happen to be a hot topic.”

13:06 Why did the content focus on race?

18:05 Does the racist content reflect how some Singaporeans think?

21:21 How polarisation can happen

26:10 Why doesn’t the Chinese government take down such content?

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Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Eden Soh and Natasha Liew

Executive producer: Danson Cheong

Producers: Natasha Ann Zachariah, Elizabeth Law and Zachary Lim

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Read the full article at The Straits Times →
Source document: Centre of Excellence for National Security, Future Issues and Technology

1 reports

The Straits TimesParty-aligned🔒Center3 days ago
Disinformation campaigns out of China: Who’s behind them and why?

The Straits Times reports on independent Chinese content creators producing online posts that criticize Singapore, its politicians, and minority communities, particularly targeting the Indian community. These posts have led to concerns in Singapore, prompting authorities to block 14 such posts. The article explores whether these disinformation efforts are state-sponsored or driven by other factors, and examines why they resonate with audiences in Singapore. It features interviews with Benjamin Ang, an expert in cybersecurity and disinformation, and Tan Dawn Wei, a former China bureau chief for

Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced discussion without overtly favoring any side. It includes perspectives from experts and does not use loaded language or one-sided sourcing.

Official sources cited

  • organisation Centre of Excellence for National Security, Future Issues and Technology
  • organisation Straits Times

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  • organisationCentre of Excellence for National Security, Future Issues and Technology
  • organisationStraits Times