Indians ‘Taking Over’ Singapore? How A Viral Claim Reflects A Growing Global Backlash Against Immigrants

Last Updated:June 09, 2026, 11:38 IST

Viral social media posts claimed Indians were 'taking over' Singapore, using selective videos, photos and demographic claims to suggest the country’s ethnic balance was changing

Indians account for roughly 9% of Singapore’s resident population. Chinese Singaporeans remain the dominant ethnic group, while Malays make up around 15% of the country’s multicultural society. Yet in recent weeks, the city-state found itself at the centre of a controversy after authorities ordered social media platforms to block posts claiming that Indians were “taking over" the country.

The posts alleged that Indians were overrunning Singapore, displacing locals and changing the country’s cultural identity. Singaporean authorities described the content as racially inflammatory and misleading, saying it risked fuelling social tensions in a country that has placed ethnic harmony at the centre of its national identity.

Investigations into these posts revealed that they likely originated from a China-based platform and were subsequently shared by other platforms and websites, according to a Channel News Asia report on June 6.

The episode raises a much larger question. As anti-immigrant sentiment grows across parts of the world, including the US, UK, Australia, and Europe, are Indians increasingly becoming targets of online misinformation campaigns, demographic anxieties and political backlash?

What Really Is The Singapore Controversy?

The incident began when a series of viral social media posts claimed that Indians were “taking over" Singapore. The posts used selective videos, photographs and demographic claims to argue that the country’s ethnic balance was changing dramatically.

Singapore’s government intervened, directing platforms to block access to the content. Authorities said the posts contained misleading claims and promoted racial hostility. Reports also suggested that some of the content may have had links to foreign influence operations seeking to exploit ethnic tensions within Singapore.

Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong told reporters, “The videos attack our multiracial society and they try to divide people based on race. This, however, is not who we are. Every community in Singapore here is valued and everyone has an equal place."

The response was significant because Singapore rarely intervenes so publicly in debates involving race and immigration unless authorities believe social cohesion is at risk.

The social media posts claimed that Singapore’s multiracial policy was a “façade" meant to appeal to “Western values", and that the country’s stability came from its majority Chinese population, not its multiracial policy.

The Singapore’s MHA said these were malicious content to incite ill will against Indians. “These attacks coming from a foreign source are doubly unacceptable," the ministry said, adding that Singapore firmly opposes “nativism and xenophobia".

The government argued that the claims did not reflect demographic reality and could undermine decades of efforts to maintain harmony among the country’s Chinese, Malay, Indian and other communities.

Are Indians Really ‘Overrunning’ Singapore?

The short answer is no. According to official figures, ethnic Chinese continue to account for roughly three-fourths of Singapore’s resident population. Indians make up about 9% of residents, a share that has remained relatively stable over time.

Indians are also not newcomers to Singapore. Their presence dates back to 1819 following the British arrival, when workers, traders and professionals from the Indian subcontinent migrated to the island.

While some were convicts hired to build the island’s infrastructure, others served as clerks, military personnel, and labourers. South Indian Tamils and Sri Lankan Tamils heavily influenced the emerging administrative class.

Following Singapore’s independence in 1965, the Indian community adapted to the nation’s rapid growth, achieving prominent roles in politics, diplomacy, education, and the legal sector.

Gradually, Tamils became the dominant community in Singapore, followed by Malayalis, Punjabis, Sindhis and Gujaratis. Over the years, Singapore grew as the focal point for 19th century Indian immigrants and labourers, with ‘Little India’ becoming the cultural heart of Singapore’s Indian community. Today, it is a bustling cultural epicentre, famous for the historic Sri Mariamman Temple built by Indian pioneer Naraina Pillai in 1827.

Today, the Indian community is deeply integrated into Singaporean society and includes citizens, permanent residents and skilled professionals across sectors ranging from finance and technology to healthcare and education.

Why Are Anti-Immigrant Narratives Growing Globally?

The Singapore episode comes at a time when immigration has become one of the most politically sensitive issues across the world.

Many countries are still dealing with the economic and social consequences of the pandemic years. Housing shortages, rising living costs, wage pressures and concerns about public services have made immigration an increasingly contentious political issue.

A new study from ETH Zurich and Bocconi University in Milan shows that the success of anti-immigration parties in Switzerland’s border regions is not due to the effects of migration itself, but rather to their rhetoric.

“Anti-immigration parties have won additional votes in border communities, despite the fact that people there are no worse off in the labour market as a result of the border opening", says Andreas Beerli, economist at the Swiss Economic Institute at ETH and one of the co-authors.

Politicians and online influencers have often linked these challenges to migrants, even when the underlying causes are more complex.

Across Europe, North America and parts of Asia-Pacific, anti-immigrant narratives have become more mainstream. Migrants are frequently blamed for housing shortages, job competition, pressure on infrastructure and cultural change.

Social media has amplified these sentiments by making it easier for emotionally charged content to spread rapidly. Videos showing crowded neighbourhoods, public events or migrant communities can quickly be framed as evidence of demographic “replacement" regardless of what the underlying data shows.

Why Are Indians Increasingly In The Spotlight?

One reason is simple: there are more Indians living abroad than ever before. India now has the world’s largest diaspora, estimated at more than 35 million people spread across every major continent. Indians are among the fastest-growing skilled migrant groups in countries such as Canada, Australia, Singapore, the UK and the US.

Many Indians work in sectors facing labour shortages, including healthcare, engineering, technology, finance and research. This growing visibility has brought economic success but also greater scrutiny.

In Canada, debates around international students and immigration levels have increasingly focused on Indians because they represent a large share of recent arrivals. In Australia and the UK, discussions about migration often feature Indian professionals and students. Singapore has also witnessed periodic debates over foreign talent and employment competition.

The result is that Indians are becoming highly visible symbols in wider immigration debates, even when the underlying concerns are directed at migration policy rather than any particular community.

What Do Recent Surveys Show?

The changing environment is also being felt by Indian-origin communities themselves.

Recent survey findings from the Carnegie Endowment indicate that many Indian-Americans continue to view the US positively and remain highly successful economically and educationally. However, the survey also found growing concerns about political polarisation, racial tensions and the broader climate surrounding immigration.

The findings suggest that while Indian-origin communities remain among the most successful immigrant groups globally, they are not immune to the anxieties affecting immigrants more broadly.

Across Europe, immigration has become an increasingly polarising political issue, particularly in countries such as the UK, France and Italy. Right-wing groups have amplified concerns over migration, often claiming that immigrants are taking away jobs, straining public services and altering national identities. In some cases, anti-immigrant protests have turned violent.

According to the Vivekananda International Foundation, Indians in the UK have faced growing scrutiny and hostility in the post-Brexit era, particularly around debates over housing, healthcare and migration.

Similar sentiments are visible in the US. Despite little evidence that foreign workers are displacing large numbers of American employees, H-1B visa holders — many of whom are Indian professionals — continue to be a frequent target of anti-immigration rhetoric. Indian nationals also remain ineligible for the US Diversity Visa Lottery programme, a restriction that is expected to remain in place until at least 2028, according to the foundation.

How Social Media Turns Demographics Into A Culture War

The Singapore controversy highlights how quickly demographic debates can become culture wars online. Most viral immigration content follows a similar pattern. A video, photograph or isolated incident is presented as evidence of a much larger trend. Selective statistics are used to create the impression of dramatic demographic change. Emotional language then transforms a policy debate into an identity conflict. The goal is often not to inform but to provoke.

Social media business models rely on keeping users on the platform to view advertisements. Algorithms quickly learn that content provoking high-arousal emotions, specifically anger, fear, and disgust, drives significantly more clicks and shares. Consequently, nuanced, moderate viewpoints are suppressed, while extreme, inflammatory portrayals of demographic groups are aggressively amplified.

Fear-based narratives tend to spread faster than nuanced explanations. Claims that a community is “taking over" a country generate far more engagement than census data showing gradual demographic change.

According to the UN Global Risk Report 2024, mis- and disinformation is not only a top global threat – it is the one countries feel least prepared to address. Over 1,100 experts from 136 countries ranked it among the gravest risks, and more than 80% said it is already happening.

That is why governments around the world are increasingly concerned about misinformation campaigns that exploit immigration anxieties.

The Singapore controversy reflects a global moment in which migration, identity and economic uncertainty are colliding. As Indian communities become larger, wealthier and more visible across the world, they are also becoming more prominent targets in debates about national identity, jobs and social change.

About the Author

Shilpy Bisht

Shilpy Bisht is a News Editor at News18, where she leads the English app operations. She writes on world affairs, health, AI, career, business, and issues affecting women and children. A former print ...Read More

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