Authorities move against spoofed “local” portals used to mimic mainstream media and sway opinion.
Singapore has blocked six inauthentic websites posing as local news outlets after officials concluded they could be used by foreign actors to mount hostile information campaigns.
Foreign Run Sites Masquerading As Local Media
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) identified six websites that appeared to be Singapore news portals but were in fact operated by foreign actors. MHA assessed that the sites could be used for hostile information campaigns, where coordinated online tools and tactics are deployed to influence domestic political discourse and advance another country’s interests. In a joint statement on April 23, MHA and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said the domains used spoofed or Singapore associated terms and carried local news content to pass as mainstream media.
Links To Known Disinformation Networks
The blocked sites are singaporeheadline.com, singaporeweek.com, singapore24hour.com, nanyangweekly.com, singaporebuzz.com and sgtimes.com. The first five were tied to a wider network of inauthentic news sites previously flagged by Google’s Threat Analysis Group and cybersecurity firm Mandiant. Whois records show all five were registered on March 28, 2021, in the Cayman Islands. Authorities noted that the sites were revamped in June 2025 with similar features such as a news ticker, search bar and trending story highlights to more closely resemble legitimate news portals.
Election Period Activity And Content Copying
During the 2025 General Election, four of the sites, including singaporeheadline.com, singaporeweek.com, singapore24hour.com and nanyangweekly.com, suddenly became active and published election related news despite being largely dormant before the Writ of Election was issued. Articles on these sites were often copied from local mainstream and foreign media but attributed to the inauthentic portals themselves. Officials warned that such practices could mislead readers into thinking these sites are official Singapore news sources or that their content accurately reflects local sentiment and positions.
SgTimes And Tactics Used By Malicious Actors
The sixth site, sgtimes.com, also tried to pass itself off as a mainstream Singapore outlet. MHA and IMDA highlighted a July 25, 2025 article where the site described itself as one of Singapore’s mainstream media with “high monthly visits.” Authorities said it is a common tactic for malicious foreign actors to build seemingly credible platforms to attract a local following, then pivot to spreading false narratives. Overseas examples show similar sites being used to incite social tension, exploit fault lines, manipulate elections and undermine trust in public institutions.
Blocking Orders And Call For Public Vigilance
IMDA, acting on MHA’s findings, issued directions to Internet Access Service Providers under the Broadcasting Act to disable access to the six sites for users in Singapore, calling the move necessary in the public interest. In October 2024, ten inauthentic sites created by foreign actors were blocked under the same law. The authorities urged Singaporeans to stay vigilant when consuming online content, remain alert to spoofed local news portals and check information against trusted, authoritative sources to avoid unknowingly amplifying hostile information campaigns.
Singapore’s decision to block six foreign run sites that impersonated local media underlines the growing sophistication of online influence operations and their potential to distort public debate. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, the case highlights how quickly fake news brands can be weaponised around elections or crises, reinforcing the need for robust regulation, transparent platforms and digitally savvy citizens to safeguard social cohesion and trust in institutions across the region.
Sources: Asia One (2026) , CNA (2026)
Keywords: Inauthentic News Sites, Singaporeheadline Com, Singaporeweek Com, Nanyangweekly Com, SgTimes Com, Broadcasting Act Directions
