No threshold set over blocking websites linked to potential misinformation campaigns: MHA

Even if Singaporeans have a low level of exposure to websites linked to potential misinformation campaigns, the authorities will still block these sites, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

- Christine Tan

Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said this in Parliament on Nov 13, in response to a question from Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang) about the ministry's blocking of inauthentic websites.

She said MHA does not set a threshold on a website's reach or impact in assessing whether to act against such threats.

Mr Yip's parliamentary question came after MHA and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on Oct 22 ordered 10 fake websites to be blocked.

In her reply, Ms Sun said these websites could potentially be used by foreign actors to mount hostile information campaigns against Singapore.

Most of them are associated with global networks of inauthentic news websites known to have conducted such campaigns in other countries, added Ms Sun, who is also Minister of State for Social and Family Development.

She said: "IMDA had considered MHA's findings and was satisfied that it was in the public interest to take pre-emptive action, and not wait until a hostile information campaign is mounted before acting against these websites."