No further posts from online accounts linked to Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui detected after May 10: Sun Xueling

SINGAPORE: Social media posts linked to exiled Chinese businessman Guo Wengui carrying malicious narratives on Singapore’s leadership transition stopped after May 10, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling.
It was announced last month that Singapore will block 95 social media accounts linked to Guo that it believes could launch hostile information campaigns here.
It is the first use of account restriction directions under the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA) since the law was passed in October 2021.
Ms Sun added that investigations have not found any evidence that Singaporeans or people based in Singapore are responsible for the 95 accounts, and that there was “low reach” in the local information space. 
She was responding in parliament to a question posed by Mr Ang Wei Neng (PAP – West Coast) on the reach of such posts on Singapore’s leadership transition, as well as what Singapore learned from the episode.
The directions were issued after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) identified a network of accounts linked to Guo and his affiliated organisations, known to disseminate disinformation across multiple platforms.
Between Apr 17 and May 10 this year, 92 accounts across the five platforms published over 120 posts containing videos on Singapore’s leadership transition.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong took over the reins from his predecessor Lee Hsien Loong on May 15 this year.
The accounts are linked to Guo and his affiliated organisations, the New Federal State of China and the Himalaya Supervisory Organisation, MHA investigations found.
The New Federal State of China is a right-wing political and lobby group created by Guo and former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
Another three accounts belong to a Singapore chapter of the Himalaya Supervisory Organisation, known as Himalaya Singapore.
These accounts had published posts that alleged Singapore is “in the pocket of a foreign actor”, who was “behind the scenes in the selection of Singapore’s fourth-generation leader”, MHA had said in July.
As such, five social media platforms — X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok — have been directed to block a total of 95 online accounts from being accessible to Singapore users.
Ms Sun said that this episode is a reminder that Singapore is “vulnerable to hostile information campaigns because of our small, open, and highly digitally connected society”.
“The ubiquity of technologies such as the internet, social media and artificial intelligence has made preparing for and carrying out hostile information campaigns much easier,” she said. 
She added that these campaign tactics range from polarising societies by exploiting fault lines and manipulating public opinion on sensitive issues, to undermining trust in government and institutions.
She said that while legislative levers such as FICA that prevent, detect, and disrupt hostile information campaigns, are important, this alone is not enough. 
“Public vigilance against foreign interference is equally important,” she said. “We urge Singaporeans to be discerning when consuming and disseminating information online.” 
She added that Singaporeans should always fact-check the information, to see if it is accurate and authentic, against a credible source.