Extra-marital dating site Ashley Madison to launch in Singapore in November, ignores critics

It’s official, Ashley Madison, a dating site for married folks, has registered a Singapore domain name. A landing page collecting email addresses is also up, stating that the site will launch in November 2013 in the conservative island state.

The site has met with strong objection among conservative elements in the country who have set up a Facebook page attracting over 26,000 likes.

The page admin wrote a message scolding Ashley Madison for its “shameless, persistent intent to set foot on our soil to contaminate the weak minds and people susceptible to unconscious submission to temptations.”

It continues: “We know you are laughing with joy over your self proclaimed victory in registering a website in Singapore, even with a “.sg” domain name. We know you are laughing at our Minister’s futile disapproval of your entry to Singapore, and our media authorities’ lack of stand and action.”

The message then concludes by saying that the dating site “will not have the last laugh”.

Despite the strong objections — a government minister has even spoke against it — the Canadian company’s founder and CEO Noel Biderman is slated to come to Singapore for the launch. It is even looking to hire a PR agency that “does not shy away from highly controversial issues” to spread its gospel in Singapore.

Calls have been made by petitioners to ban the site in Singapore. The government has not committed to any course of action.

(Editing by Josh Horwitz)