Singapore and PM Lawrence Wong Targeted in AI-Driven YouTube Disinformation Campaign

Singapore targeted by sophisticated AI-driven disinformation campaign on YouTube, investigation reveals hundreds of fake videos attacking Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

A coordinated disinformation operation using artificial intelligence has targeted Singapore and its Prime Minister Lawrence Wong through hundreds of Chinese-language YouTube videos, according to an extensive investigation by Channel News Asia.

The probe uncovered nearly 300 videos across more than 30 YouTube channels that showed clear signs of central coordination, including identical scripts, synchronized posting times, and shared visual templates. Approximately 70 percent of these videos specifically aimed at undermining Wong’s leadership.

The fabricated content pushed false narratives about Singapore’s political stability, with many videos falsely claiming Wong was on the verge of being removed from office or describing him as the “shortest-serving PM.” Other videos manufactured stories about political infighting between Wong and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, while some went as far as portraying Singapore’s robust economy as being on the brink of collapse.

Technical analysis revealed sophisticated coordination behind the campaign. Channel News Asia found multiple channels created within minutes of each other, videos published simultaneously down to the exact second, and repeated use of identical AI-generated transcripts, voiceovers, and visual thumbnails – all hallmarks of an organized operation rather than independent content creators.

“The level of coordination we’re seeing suggests a well-funded, deliberate attempt to spread misinformation about Singapore’s leadership,” said a cybersecurity expert familiar with the investigation who requested anonymity. “The use of AI to rapidly generate content makes these campaigns increasingly difficult to counter.”

Google, YouTube’s parent company, has taken limited action in response to the findings. After being approached by Channel News Asia for comment, the company terminated two of the accounts involved in the operation. However, many of the flagged videos remain accessible on the platform, and new content continues to appear, indicating the disinformation campaign remains active.

Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information acknowledged awareness of the operation, confirming it had identified accounts publishing “wholly fabricated and outlandish claims” about the country’s domestic politics and foreign relations. In response, the ministry has urged Singaporeans to rely on official government sources for accurate information and to exercise caution before sharing unverified content online.

This campaign targeting Singapore represents a growing trend of AI-enabled disinformation operations worldwide. Intelligence experts note that artificial intelligence has dramatically reduced the cost and increased the scale of such operations, allowing bad actors to produce convincing fake content at unprecedented volumes.

The timing of the campaign is particularly significant as Singapore continues to navigate complex regional relationships, especially with China and the United States. As a key financial hub in Southeast Asia, Singapore’s political stability is crucial for regional economic security.

“Disinformation campaigns like this one aren’t just about attacking individual leaders,” said Dr. Melissa Chan, a digital policy researcher at the National University of Singapore. “They’re designed to undermine public trust in institutions and create political uncertainty that can have real economic and diplomatic consequences.”

The Singapore government has not yet attributed the campaign to any specific group or country, and investigations into the source continue. Cybersecurity analysts note that attribution remains challenging as sophisticated actors often obscure their origins through multiple digital layers.

For ordinary citizens, the increasing sophistication of AI-generated disinformation poses new challenges in distinguishing fact from fiction. Media literacy experts recommend verifying information through multiple credible sources before accepting or sharing content, especially regarding political claims that seem designed to provoke strong emotional responses.