Hundreds of Chinese-language, AI-generated YouTube videos have been targeting Singapore and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as part of what appears to be a coordinated disinformation campaign. Investigations found that seven out of ten videos focused directly on Mr. Wong, pushing false claims about his leadership being under threat and spreading conspiracy theories about political infighting.
The videos began appearing late last year and have since garnered millions of views. Experts said the high numbers could be partly due to bot traffic or automated systems. In total, nearly 300 videos were analysed over three weeks. More than 30 YouTube channels uploaded them and also included content attacking other world leaders. Most of the clips featured Mandarin computer-generated voiceovers and subtitles in traditional Chinese characters.
False Claims About Leadership and Economy
Several videos claimed that Mr. Wong was about to be removed by his predecessor, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Some titles described him as having “fallen from power” and even called him the “shortest-serving PM”.
Another repeated claim was that Singapore’s economy was heading towards “doom”. The videos alleged that a port in Hainan would threaten Singapore’s position as a trade hub. They cited unverifiable figures about “collapsing” shipping volumes and claimed that Fortune 500 companies were leaving the country.
In reality, Singapore’s port handled a record 44.66 million containers in 2025 and has remained the world’s second-busiest container port for the past 15 years.
SEO Tactics and Coordinated Channels
A clear pattern in the campaign was the aggressive use of hashtags related to Singapore and Mr. Wong. This tactic, known as search engine optimisation poisoning, is meant to flood Chinese-language search results and draw viewers in.
At least 10 YouTube channels appeared to be acting together. Some posted videos at the exact same second, or used identical scripts and voiceovers. Four channels sharing the name prefix “Southern Master” were created within 20 minutes of each other on Jan 18. Each posted nine videos at similar times and used almost identical visuals, including a deepfake of late American investor Charlie Munger.
Response From Authorities and YouTube
After questions were sent to Google, which owns YouTube, two flagged accounts were terminated within 12 hours. A YouTube spokesperson said: “YouTube does not allow spam, scams, or other deceptive practices that take advantage of the YouTube community. In accordance with these policies, we have terminated the flagged channels.”
Singapore’s Ministry of Digital Development and Information said it was aware of the accounts making “wholly fabricated and outlandish claims” about Singapore’s foreign policy and domestic politics.
“It would be clear to Singaporeans, and those who live here, that the videos contain entirely made-up storylines about Singapore’s current affairs,” the spokesperson said.
The ministry added: “Beyond regulatory measures, a well-informed, vigilant and discerning public is our first and most crucial layer of defence against misinformation.”
Experts from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies also warned that such campaigns may grow more advanced over time, with higher production quality and wider reach.
