Deepfake technology has come a long way, but its misuse is creating real-world damages, especially amongst Singapore’s youths. In this episode, host Liang Kaixin is joined by Dr Annabelle Chow, Principal Clinical Psychologist at Annabelle Psychology, and Dr Chew Han Ei, Senior Research Fellow and Head, Governance and Economy at IPS,  to unpack the fallout from the recent Singapore Sports School incident, where students circulated deepfake nude images of their peers. They also explore the way forward for protecting youths from similar online harms in this age of AI.

Dr Chew notes that official figures understate the problem: based on non-profit organisation SG Her Empowerment’s 2023 national study, about 10 per cent of young Singaporeans reported experiencing image‑based sexual abuse — including deepfakes — yet many youths were unaware of any avenues for recourse.

In turn, Dr Chow shares that clinically, deepfake victimisation often constitutes a form of relational trauma. She describes how survivors, after being betrayed by classmates or friends, face shock, shame and self‑blame. They struggle with mistrust, hypervigilance and even PTSD‑like reactions, despite knowing the images are fabricated. Many victims minimise the harm, delaying help‑seeking until the emotional toll becomes severe.

Both guests see a need for balanced responses when it comes to perpetrators. While survivors seek justice and accountability, Dr Chow advocates for empathy, education, and restorative pathways alongside appropriate punishments, to address underlying emotional and developmental issues before recidivism takes hold.

Looking ahead, the guests argue that no single fix will suffice. A new Online Safety Commission that will be launched in 2026, as well as existing legal penalties, offer crucial deterrence and redress, but education on digital empathy, emotional literacy and age‑appropriate platform design are equally urgent.

If you are facing emotional distress: 

• Call Samaritans of Singapore’s 24-hour hotline (1-767) 
• WhatsApp Samaritans of Singapore’s (+65 9151 1767) 

Support centres for online harm:

• SG Her Empowerment 
  • Helpline: 8001 01 4616 (Mon-Fri, 9 am-9 pm) 
  • WhatsApp: 6571 4400 (Mon-Fri, 9 am-9 pm) 
  • Email: shecares@scwo.org.sg  
  • Address: SCWO, 96 Waterloo St, Singapore 187967 
• AWARE Sexual Assault Care Centre.  
  • Helpline: 6779 0282 (Mon-Fri, 10 am to 6 pm)
  • WhatsApp: 9781 4101
  • Email: sacc@aware.org.sg 
  • Address: 5 Dover Cres, #01-22, Singapore 130005  

About our Guests: 
Chew Han Ei 
Senior Research Fellow and Head, Governance and Economy at IPS
Dr Chew Han Ei is Head of Governance and Economy at the Institute of Policy Studies, where he leads research on digital trust, online harms, and technology adoption. His studies have informed national strategies on user protection, digital inclusion, and responsible tech use.

He also serves on the board of SG Her Empowerment, where he guides a multi-year study on online harms and helped establish SHECARES@SCWO — Singapore’s first support centre for victims of online harms. He has also contributed to international research with UNESCO on digital literacy and gender gaps.

As part of his research, Han Ei once deepfaked himself using AI — just to see how easy it was. It worked. That image now lives, locked away in a digital vault.
 
Dr Annabelle Chow
MAPS FCCLP MSRO MSPS
Principal Clinical Psychologist, Annabelle Psychology
Dr Annabelle Chow is the principal clinical psychologist at Annabelle Psychology. She is registered with the Singapore Register of Psychologists (SRP) and accredited by the Australian Health...