Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong warns public about deepfake videos

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong has issued a stern warning to the public about the proliferation of deepfake videos, which falsely depict him making comments on various matters, including international relations and foreign leaders.

In a Facebook post on 27 June, SM Lee emphasized the malicious intent behind these videos.

"The motive of these deepfakes may not be commercial, but their malicious intent is clear," SM Lee stated. He expressed concern that the creators of these deepfakes aim to mislead the public into believing that the views presented in these videos are endorsed by him or the Singapore Government, posing significant risks to national interests.

SM Lee urged the public to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of videos they come across online. "Don’t share them, not even to tell people that they are fake, as viewers may not read your comment and wrongly assume that the videos are real," he added. Instead, he advised reporting such videos directly on the platform where they are found.

Authentic videos of SM Lee can be accessed through the Prime Minister’s Office YouTube channel and website, or other official media sites, he noted.

This warning follows a similar alert issued by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who on 26 June cautioned the public about a scammer sending e-mails in his name.

"Stay vigilant, and ignore any e-mails if you are unable to verify the sender’s identity. Be careful when clicking on links and opening attachments from non-official sources," DPM Heng advised. He reiterated that government officials would never request personal information such as pin numbers, one-time passwords, and bank account details via e-mail.

Phishing remains one of the most prevalent online scams in Singapore, designed to deceive victims into divulging money or sensitive information, DPM Heng added.

He directed the public to resources for more information on scams, including the website scamalert.sg and the Anti-Scam hotline at 1800-722-6688.

Incidents can also be reported via the ScamShield Bot on WhatsApp at go.gov.sg/scamshield-bot.

Despite the serious implications of these deepfake videos, it is noteworthy that no Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) directives have been issued against them.

Answering a written question on the use of deepfake videos, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, who was answering on behalf of then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in May this year, wrote:

"The Government takes a strong stance against malicious manipulated media content and online falsehoods. If such content is published online and is against the public interest, action may be taken under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) to issue corrections, and require the correct facts to be published. Disabling directions can be issued if the content poses serious harm. Individuals may also be liable for offences under POFMA if they are found to have knowingly communicated online falsehoods."

Given that POFMA was established to counteract the spread of false information online, why has it not been utilized in this context?