S'pore, tech platforms gear up to counter cyber threats for GE2025

Resilience against foreign influence, racially divisive narratives will be put to test: Experts

- Hariz Baharudin

As the 2025 General Election approaches, the risk of digital interference — whether subtle or overt — is once again under scrutiny.

Political parties here said they have stepped up efforts to secure their data and digital infrastructure, while tech platforms have moved to act more decisively against falsehoods and manipulated content.

The Government has also signalled its intent to be vigilant against electoral misinformation.

Observers told The Straits Times that the coming election could be a key test of Singapore's resilience — not just to cyber threats but also to the broader challenge of keeping its political processes free from foreign influence and racially divisive narratives.

Given how elections are increasingly digital, with candidates and parties taking to social media to make their case to the electorate, new cyber-security risks are emerging and being amplified, said Mr James Cook, Asia-Pacific group vice-president of DigiCert, a digital security company.

Mr Eugene Tan, an associate research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), said politicians are also more vulnerable during this period, especially in the face of disruptions or negative narratives.

He flagged the threat posed by state-linked threat actors, who are "always present" and looking for an opening to disrupt the Republic's activities.

Such groups may see election season as the best time to strike, given Singapore's short election campaign period — typically nine days — which may not be enough time to investigate cyber incidents.

Observers added that state-sponsored actors may also attempt to sway election results in favour of candidates or parties that align with their national interests, or destabilise countries through disinformation campaigns and cyber attacks.