Singapore government agencies called on candidates for the president’s post to show vigilance regarding potential foreign intervention and cyberosis to ensure the honesty of elections.
As stated at joint press release, the Ministry of the Interior, the Cybersecurity Agency Singapore, and the election department, foreign intervention includes attempts by foreign persons to “manipulate the country’s internal policy with secret and deceitful means.”
“This undermines political sovereignty and harms the social cohesion of the inhabitants of Singapore,” said representatives of the departments.
Examples are given reports of the alleged foreign intervention in elections in other countries, such as the presidential elections in the United States in 2020 and in France in 2017.
“Singapore is not safe from this. The country’s policy should be determined exclusively by its citizens. We must do everything possible to protect the honesty of our election processes,” the agencies said.
Information about some methods used by foreign entities to interfere in the elections, as well as the precautions that candidates can accept the risks, access on the website of the Singapore election department.
Candidates are strongly recommended:
- increase your awareness of the threats of foreign intervention;
- strengthen the cybersecurity of their infrastructure and accounts in social networks;
- Carefully check your platforms for suspicious activity;
- Do not disseminate messages and tweets of dubious origin;
- immediately report to the police and the election commission on suspicions of interference or hacking of accounts.
It is noteworthy that a similar warning was issued before the elections for the post of President Singapore in 2020. Meanwhile, this year the presidential election should take place next month.