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SINGAPORE: Three social media platforms have been ordered to block access to 14 posts which \u201ctarget the Indian community and undermine Singapore\u2019s model of multiculturalism\u201d, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Saturday (Jun 6).<\/span><\/p>\n The police have issued disabling directions under the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) to block access to the posts on YouTube, Facebook and X, MHA said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n The direction requires the platforms to \u201ctake all reasonable steps to disable access by Singapore users to these posts\u201d, it added.<\/span><\/p>\n Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong told reporters at Siglap South Community Centre on Saturday that “from what we know so far, the content originated from overseas”.<\/span><\/p>\n Investigations into the problematic content in these posts had revealed that it likely originated from a China-based platform, and was subsequently shared by other platforms and websites.<\/span><\/p>\n “These videos attack our multi-racial society and they try to divide people based on race. This, however, is not who we are. Every community in Singapore here is valued and everyone has an equal place,” said Mr Tong, who is also Minister for Law.<\/span><\/p>\n “These videos strike at the very foundation of what makes Singapore home for all of us and they undermine the very basis of our society.”<\/span><\/p>\n Mr Tong said the government does not tolerate any narratives that seek to undermine Singapore’s racial harmony, “especially when it is propagated by foreigners”.<\/span><\/p>\n In its statement, MHA said Singapore firmly opposes “nativism and xenophobia”.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “Any attempt to pit one community against another here must be firmly rejected,\u201d said MHA. “These attacks coming from a foreign source are doubly unacceptable.”<\/span><\/p>\n Mr Tong said that there is currently no evidence to suggest that this is a coordinated campaign by any government. Investigations have shown that the content was likely generated organically by various foreign netizens, he added.<\/p>\n “I would say any country seeking to safeguard its social cohesion would agree with us that such content is unacceptable, and would take a similar stance to safeguard their own society,” he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n The social media posts, which include videos, portray <\/strong>various claims that Singapore is displaying anxiety over its cultural identity and ethnic politics. Such narratives started circulating online in the Chinese information space in May, MHA said.<\/span><\/p>\nNARRATIVES CIRCULATED IN CHINESE ONLINE SPACES<\/h2>\n