SINGAPORE – The police have issued an Account Restriction Direction to TikTok and a Disabling direction to Meta to deal with social media posts by former Singaporean Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff.
The 54-year-old Australian has been making social media posts inciting hatred between different racial and religious groups in Singapore.
In 2016, Zulfikar was detained under the Internal Security Act for promoting terrorism and online glorification of the terrorist group, ISIS.
His recent posts include one made on June 19 on TikTok,where he falsely claimed that Malay Muslims were forced to move away from Islam and assimilate into the Chinese community in Singapore.
Similarly, a video posted on facebook on July 18 claimed the Chinese in Singapore were colonial settlers, not migrants, and that Singapore’s ideology had insulted, degraded and oppressed Malays.
The directions under the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) would see the TikTok account and Facebook page disabled.
The directions were not issued to X, formerly known as Twitter, where Zulfikar continues to make similar claims.
Responding to queries from The Straits Times regarding this, a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) spokesman said the police are investigating the content on Zulfikar’s other social media accounts and pages, and will consider issuing directions against them where necessary.
Checks by ST found Zulfikar has been making such posts from Australia, where he resettled with his family in 2002 and had held dual citizenship for Singapore and Australia.
He had received state grants and unemployment benefits from the Australian government.
He renounced his Singapore citizenship in August 2020.
Zulfikar once ran several businesses in Singapore, including those dealing in software progress and in the food and beverage industry.
He had also run Sinews Radio, a radio and broadcasting company, from 2001 to 2004.
He had called on Muslims to reject the constitutional, secular, democratic state in favour of an Islamic state governed by Syariah law, believing that violence should be used to achieve this goal if necessary.
He caused at least two Singaporeans to become radicalised, said MHA.
Meta, Apple, and Google Directed to Combat Online Scams Impersonating Singapore Government Officials
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Singapore is intensifying its efforts to combat online scams, particularly those impersonating government officials.Meta (Facebook), Apple, and google have been directed to implement measures to prevent fraudulent activity on their platforms, with potential fines of up to $1 million for non-compliance. This action underscores the growing threat of refined scams leveraging digital platforms and the government’s commitment to protecting citizens.
Government Directives and Platform Responsibilities
The Singapore government has issued directives to major tech companies to address the proliferation of scam advertisements, fake accounts, and business pages that falsely represent key government office holders on Facebook. Specifically, the government is targeting the misuse of platforms for fraudulent purposes. These scams often aim to deceive individuals into divulging personal information or making financial transactions.
Similar directives were issued to Apple and Google on November 24th, focusing on preventing the spoofing of Singapore government agencies through iMessage and Rich Dialog Services (RCS) messaging on Google Messages. channel NewsAsia reports that these measures are designed to protect citizens from increasingly convincing phishing attempts.
Specific Measures Expected
While the exact measures are not publicly detailed, the government expects the tech companies to:
- Enhance Detection Capabilities: Implement more robust systems to identify and remove scam content quickly.
- Account Verification: Strengthen verification processes for accounts and business pages, particularly those claiming to represent government entities.
- User Reporting Mechanisms: Improve the ease and effectiveness of user reporting for suspected fraudulent activity.
- Proactive Monitoring: Actively monitor platforms for emerging scam tactics and patterns.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The Singapore government is taking a firm stance against platforms that fail to adequately address online scams. Today Online reports that non-compliance with these directives can result in financial penalties of up to $1 million. This significant fine demonstrates the seriousness with which the government views the issue and its determination to hold tech companies accountable.
The rise of Government Impersonation Scams
Government impersonation scams have become increasingly prevalent in Singapore, causing significant financial losses and emotional distress to victims. Scammers often create fake Facebook profiles or websites that closely resemble official government portals, tricking individuals into believing they are interacting with legitimate authorities. Common tactics include:
- Phishing for Personal Information: Requesting sensitive data such as NRIC numbers, bank account details, or login credentials.
- False Claims of government Assistance: Offering fake grants, subsidies, or tax refunds.
- Threats of Legal Action: Impersonating law enforcement officials and threatening arrest or prosecution.
Resources for Scam Awareness and Reporting
Singaporeans are encouraged to stay vigilant and report any suspected scams to the following resources:
By working together, the government, tech companies, and citizens can create a safer online environment and protect against the growing threat of online scams.