NETWORKS OF INAUTHENTIC NEWS SITES AND THE RISK OF HOSTILE INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS IN SINGAPORE

This report examines two networks of suspected inauthentic news sites, the Haixun Network and SeaPRwire Network, to assess their potential for conducting hostile information campaigns (HICs) in Singapore. Adopted from the Mandiant report, the term “suspected inauthentic news sites” describes websites that “present themselves primarily as independent news outlets from different regions across the world” but are (in fact) all originating from a single operator or owner in one location. This report relies on open-source investigation methods and tools, along with circumstantial evidence, to establish the extent of Shanghai Haixun’s and SeaPRwire’s involvement in the two networks.