Guarding Against Foreign Espionage and Interference

While a terrorist incident is highly visible, foreign espionage or intelligence activities are not as they are conducted clandestinely. Countries engage in espionage or intelligence 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 activities to try to shape the actions, behavior and policies of the countries they are targeting to advance their own national interests.

Foreign espionage, intelligence 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 could potentially harm our national security, jeopardise our economic interests or damage our diplomatic relations. Over the years, ISD has uncovered numerous such activities and put a stop to them.