Singapore Orders Removal of China-Linked Posts Over Hostility Towards Indian Community

Singapore authorities have directed several social media platforms to restrict access to 14 online posts accused of promoting hostility towards the Indian community and undermining the country's multicultural values.

Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong told reporters that "from what we know so far, the content originated from overseas".

According to investigations, the material is believed to have originated from a China-based online platform before spreading across multiple websites and social media channels.

Authorities said the posts contained narratives suggesting that Singapore was being "overrun" by Indians and questioned the country's multiracial framework.

The content reportedly used selective images and videos of crowded locations, including Little India and religious gatherings, to support claims that the Indian population was disproportionately large.

Some posts also alleged that Indian politicians were gaining excessive influence and portrayed Singapore's multicultural policies as superficial.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the Singapore Police Force issued disabling directions under the Online Criminal Harms Act, requiring YouTube, Facebook and X to prevent Singapore users from viewing the content.

MHA described the posts as malicious efforts to create discord and foster resentment towards the Indian community, including migrant workers. The ministry added that the content may violate laws against promoting hostility between racial groups. Offenders found guilty under the Penal Code can face fines and imprisonment.

However, some netizens appeared unmoved by the news, arguing that Singapore has admitted too many Indian nationals and claiming that such views are widely shared among the locals.

Other netizens alleged that China is often responsible for spreading such disinformation, while some commenters pointed to broader racial tensions in Singapore, including claims of prejudice against Indians among segments of the Chinese Singaporean community.

This is not the first time Singapore authorities have raised concerns over alleged China-origin online content and influence narratives involving race or politics.

Singapore authorities have previously flagged Chinese-language content circulating on platforms such as WeChat and Weixin that promoted narratives portraying Singapore as a "Chinese country" or suggesting that political leadership should reflect ethnic dominance.

In May 2026, investigations reported that dozens to hundreds of Chinese-language videos were circulating online, mainly on platforms such as Douyin and WeChat.

The videos reportedly criticised Singapore's political direction, suggested the country was becoming hostile or "ungrateful" toward certain countries, and in some cases used AI-generated voices and faces.