Lawrence Wong urges the public to be cautious of deepfakes and misinformation online
On December 11, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong debunked rumours circulating online about the potential reinstatement of a circuit breaker in Singapore, calling these claims false. He also addressed fake posts and messages circulating on social media that falsely showed him endorsing commercial products, labeling them as deepfakes.
Wong’s clarification comes amid a spike in Covid-19 cases in Singapore, with 32,035 infections recorded in the week ending December 2, 2023, marking the highest number of cases in the country for the year. Despite this, he urged the public to remain vigilant and discerning when engaging with online content, as misinformation has become a growing concern.
Wong’s case is part of a wider issue, with other public figures like Senior Minister of State for Manpower Koh Poh Koon and Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen also being targeted by fake social media accounts impersonating them. The public has been increasingly warned about deepfakes, especially following similar incidents involving political figures in recent years.
Wong’s message serves as a reminder to the public to be cautious and verify the authenticity of content online.
