INAUTHENTIC LOCAL LIFESTYLE AND NEWS WEBSITES AND THE CHALLENGE FOR MEDIA LITERACY

A previous report on networks of inauthentic news sites and the risk of hostile information campaigns (HICs) in Singapore described websites that “present themselves primarily as independent news outlets from different regions across the world” but (in fact) originate from a single operator or owner in one location. This report highlights the risks of similar networks with potential to be used for HICs. Websites that present themselves as local lifestyle or current affairs sites (hereafter “Local Lifestyle and News Websites”) pose special challenges to media literacy.