Zhi Hao, Author at Goody Feed

Hundreds of fake Facebook accounts and bots have been detected spreading anti-PAP and anti-WP sentiments in the lead-up to Singapore’s 2025 General Election. These anonymous Facebook profiles have been posting misinformation, half-truths, and highly partisan opinions targeting both the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Workers’ Party (WP). Government Monitoring The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) confirmed on 22 Apr 2025 that it is investigating these accounts. The ministry stated that the government is monitoring these recently created online profiles, which appear to target various political parties. The MDDI also said it will continue to watch for foreign interference and take action against content that breaches Singaporean law. Negative Comments Over the past week, Channel NewsAsia (CNA) identified a surge in negative comments from unverifiable Facebook accounts aimed at specific personalities from both the WP and the PAP. On 20 Apr 2025, CNA detected 409 suspicious posts and comments from 149 unique profiles, following the publication of articles on the PAP’s blog, Petir, and subsequent media coverage. These posts included repeated anti-WP and anti-PAP slogans, provocative insults, and misinformation about candidates’ credentials. Image: Facebook (CNA) Nearly three-quarters of these posts were made on a single day, with a large concentration of activity after Petir published its articles at 1pm. Closer examination revealed that 90 out of the 149 unique Facebook accounts were flagged as fake. The remaining 59 were manually checked and also found to be bots. These accounts often posted multiple comments in a short period, with one bot account making 16 comments in about 90 minutes. This pattern points to coordinated “bot swarming” activity, where multiple fake accounts post simultaneously to flood comment sections. Further analysis of GE-related news events showed similar bot activity. CNA reviewed user comments on 10 Facebook posts by CNA, Mothership, and The Straits Times over several days. Out of 3,428 comments, about 47 per cent—1,608 posts—were flagged as coming from suspicious or fake accounts. A total of 581 unique fake accounts were responsible for most of these posts. These bots typically posted either anti-PAP or anti-WP messages, creating the illusion of widespread, organic participation. Evading Detection Some bots changed their Facebook profile names between posts to evade detection. For example, an account named “Jamal Bashir” in earlier posts on WP’s Harpreet Singh Nehal later changed to “Vince Varun” when commenting on PAP retirements. Another account, “Teck Beng Tan,” was shortened to “Tan TB.” CNA tracked these accounts despite their attempts to avoid being identified as inauthentic. Besides Facebook, similar activity was found on TikTok. Several accounts produce anti-establishment content, including videos targeting Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam. These videos often use image macros and AI-generated voice-overs to repeat highly partisan remarks in short, shareable formats. The origin of these accounts remains unknown, and it is unclear whether their operators are based in Singapore. Telltale Signs Telltale signs of inauthentic accounts include recent creation dates, few connections, and a focus on a single type of content—usually attacks on political parties or candidates. These accounts rarely post original content, such as personal photos, that would indicate a real person. Bots are managed by individuals who control multiple fake accounts, often posting repeated comments or replies with slight variations to avoid detection. Both types of behaviour violate Facebook’s community standards. New Rules In response to the rise of fake accounts and manipulated content, the Elections Department (ELD) has announced new rules for GE2025. For the first time, a law banning fake or digitally altered online material that misrepresents candidates is in effect. The Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) Act prohibits publishing digitally generated or manipulated content that realistically misrepresents a candidate’s speech or actions during the election period. All online advertisements must display the names of those involved in publishing them, and paid ads must indicate sponsorship. Singaporeans will vote on 03 May 2025.

Zhi Hao

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