Someone Posted Video of PAP Poster Covering WP Poster But It’s #FakeNews

It’s 2020, and fake news is an unavoidable part of everyday life.

Whether it’s coming from the mouth of a certain US president or your uncle on WhatsApp, fake news is as rampant as ever, especially with the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, with an election drawing near, Singaporeans have a new brand of fake news to deal with: amateur smear campaigns.

One simple baseless allegation about a political party or a photoshopped image of a candidate doing unspeakable things has the power to influence voters who are quick to judgement.

But there’s a reason why we’re told not to believe everything we see on the internet.

Someone Posted Video of PAP Poster Covering WP Poster But It’s #FakeNews

A viral video showing the installation of a People’s Action Party (PAP) poster had been edited to make it look like it was placed over a Worker’s Party (WP) poster.

According to MS News, the video shows a contractor putting up a PAP poster at a lamppost in Hougang SMC and stops right at the moment when the poster is covering the WP poster.

This, understandably, enraged viewers, because it looks like the PAP was deliberately covering an opposition party’s poster with its own.

But viewers who were quick to grab their pitchforks disregarded the fact that the video ends abruptly, before the contractor even gets down from his ladder.

Full Video Shared Online

Fortunately, Facebook page FactChecker.sg shared the full 1-minute long video sometime after the original shortened video was posted, showing that the PAP poster was eventually hung above the WP one.

As you can see, both posters are clearly visible, and no shenanigans have taken place.

This is why you should take everything you see on the internet with a big bowl of salt.

SPF Issues Warning 

In response to the post, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) took to Facebook to warn members of the public not to upload or circulate misleading photos or videos.

SPF also said that they received a report regarding a video of two men taking down a Reform Party (RP) poster along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3.

They later discovered that the men were contractors engaged by RP who removed the posters because they were placed at the wrong location.

SPF advised the public to avoid jumping to conclusions and urged them to report any suspicious activities to the police.

So, if you receive a photo or video that looks like it’s been edited to cast a certain party or candidate in an unfavourable light, you know what to do.

Reader: Send it to my friends and family and leave it to them to decide?

I don’t know why I keep trying.

Lest you’ve forgotten, polling day will be on this Friday (10 July). So what happens if you didn’t vote? Would you be jailed? Would you be barred from buying bubble tea for the next five years? Watch this video and you’ll know the consequences: