Guarding against foreign espionage, interference and influence

While a terrorist incident is highly visible, foreign espionage or interference activities are not as they are conducted clandestinely. Countries engage in espionage activities by recruiting human agents or using technical methods to obtain sensitive or confidential information about their target countries. Some countries may also engage in interference and influence activities to try to shape the actions, behavior and policies of the countries they are targeting to advance their own national interests.

Foreign espionage, interference and influence operations that target Singapore or make use of Singaporeans to conduct such activities undermine Singapore’s national interests. The disclosure of sensitive or classified information to Singapore’s adversaries as well as attempts to interfere in Singapore's domestic politics and foreign policy could potentially harm our national security and sovereignty, jeopardise our economic interests and damage our diplomatic relations. Over the years, ISD has uncovered numerous such activities and put a stop to them.

Learn More:

• LKY School professor Huang Jing banned, has PR cancelled, for being agent of influence for foreign country

• Singaporean Dickson Yeo, who spied for China in the US, arrested by ISD upon his return

• Introduction to Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA)