Digital & technology

Melvin Yong Yik Chye questioned the Prime Minister about the effectiveness of current protective measures by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) against scams and potential plans for stronger safeguards for credit card issuers. In response, Gan Kim Yong emphasized a collective government effort to combat scams, highlighting ongoing collaborations between MAS and banks to enhance security measures. Key initiatives include the introduction of Money Lock accounts, discontinuation of SMS One-Time Passwords for high-risk transactions, and increased fraud surveillance. Despite a reported decrease in scam cases and losses, Gan Kim Yong urged vigilance, noting that the scam landscape continues to evolve.

Vikram Nair asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information about a review of Australia's legislation banning social media access for individuals under 16 and the possibility of similar legislation in Singapore. The Minister of State, Rahayu Mahzam, indicated that Singapore is assessing Australia's measures while implementing its age assurance requirements for apps and social media to protect children. She emphasized the complexity of the issue, including concerns about screen time, inappropriate content, and online behavior. Rahayu stated that Singapore will take a multi-prong approach, involving various stakeholders, to develop effective measures for safeguarding children online. The Ministry is focusing on meaningful implementation that can genuinely improve children's online experiences.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye questioned the Minister for National Development about the Council for Estate Agencies' plans to update the Code of Ethics to mandate property agents to declare AI-edited images and videos in listings. Chee Hong Tat stated that current guidelines require agents to accurately describe properties and provide disclaimers regarding any AI alterations to avoid misleading consumers. The CEA is reviewing its regulations to clarify the use of AI in property advertisements while balancing consumer protection and industry innovation.

Patrick Tay Teck Guan requested that the Ministry of Manpower publish quarterly statistics on retrenchments related to AI, redeployment rates, and the average time for affected workers to find new employment. Tan See Leng responded that the Ministry surveys businesses on retrenchment reasons, with business restructuring accounting for 60% to 70% of cases since 2024, often linked to productivity improvements from AI adoption. The Government will continue to analyze the impact of technological advancements, including AI, on employment trends.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye questioned the Minister for Education about plans to address the negative effects of social media on secondary school students and measures to enhance cyber resilience among them. Desmond Lee acknowledged existing research on the harmful effects of excessive social media use on youth mental well-being. The Ministry teaches Cyber Wellness lessons in schools to help students balance online and offline activities, manage social media use, and recognize digital risks. The government has released a Positive Use Guide on Technology and Social Media, and schools will collaborate with parents to provide resources and support for monitoring children's online activities.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat raised concerns about the underutilization of digital warehouse receipts for financing critical minerals in Singapore, despite amendments to the Electronic Transactions Act. He also asked about plans to operationalize section 16Q of the Act for accrediting trusted issuers and how Singapore's metal warrant financing framework compares to those in Dubai and the UK. Gan Kim Yong explained that most critical minerals are financed through the London Metal Exchange (LME), noting that banks recognize LME's digital receipts as collateral. He mentioned that some companies use non-LME warehouses due to lower costs, which issue physical receipts instead. He concluded that Singapore's metal financing framework is similar to international systems, and accreditation for trusted issuers will be considered if market interest grows.

Joan Pereira questioned the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance regarding the need for enhancements in linking and delinking recycled mobile phone numbers to bank accounts for PayNow purposes. Gan Kim Yong referenced a previous reply from 16 October 2024 regarding wrongful PayNow transfers. The Monetary Authority of Singapore maintains that the current processes for changing registered telephone numbers for PayNow are adequate.

Joan Pereira questioned the Acting Minister for Transport on cybersecurity measures for electric public buses from a Chinese manufacturer, specifically regarding the deactivation of remote controls and optimization of vehicle performance without over-the-air updates. Melvin Yong raised concerns about safeguards for electric vehicles prior to any over-the-air updates. Jeffrey Siow explained that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) employs a risk-tiered approach to cybersecurity, requiring motor dealers to declare over-the-air capabilities and seeking prior approval for significant OTA modifications. LTA mandates compliance with international cybersecurity regulations for electric buses and assures that software updates are currently performed on-site by authorized personnel after LTA verification. Additionally, LTA is working with government cybersecurity agencies to transition safely to OTA updates for public buses.

Joan Pereira questioned the Minister for Digital Development and Information about measures to ensure Singpass accounts are linked to valid mobile numbers and the potential establishment of a platform for telecom providers to update deregistered numbers for organizational verification. Mrs. Josephine Teo explained that Singpass requires users to verify their mobile numbers through OTPs during registration and account changes, ensuring access control. For high-risk transactions or anomalies, additional safeguards like facial verification are implemented to mitigate unauthorized access risks. The Government will collaborate with agencies and industry to evaluate the need for further measures while emphasizing that individuals must keep their personal data updated.

Ng Shi Xuan asked about plans for a centralized SGVoucher digital wallet to streamline Government voucher disbursements. Josephine Teo explained that the Government currently uses various platforms to accommodate diverse citizen needs and comfort levels with technology. The RedeemSG system allows citizens to access multiple voucher schemes easily, without needing an app, and facilitates sharing through unique links. Teo acknowledged the challenge of managing multiple links and indicated that the suggestion for a centralized wallet would be considered in future refinements of digital disbursement strategies.

Yeo Wan Ling asked about the applicability of film classification and censorship to short-form reel-style content on social media. Josephine Teo explained that Singapore's film classification framework does not cover such videos, but the Government has implemented online safety measures to protect users. The Infocomm Media Development Authority can direct social media platforms to remove egregious content, and designated services must mitigate exposure to harmful material, particularly for children. Additionally, public education initiatives, such as the Positive Use Guide on Technology and Social Media, aim to help Singaporeans navigate digital risks.

Jackson Lam questioned the Minister for Home Affairs on the speed of flagging suspected mule activities, coordination among agencies, and the status of real-time alerts and automated freezes. K Shanmugam responded that the Anti-Scam Centre coordinates with banks and telecommunications companies to quickly trace and freeze accounts involved in scams, typically within a day. Proactive measures are in place, using fraud analytics to detect mule activities and prevent the misuse of phone lines and bank accounts. About 1,200 individuals and 50 corporate entities have faced restrictions, with effectiveness still being evaluated, and restrictions lasting from one to three years based on the offender's history.

Tan Kiat How addressed questions regarding the Health Information Bill (HIB), emphasizing that it aims to enhance patient care through coordinated health information management. Kenneth Tiong raised concerns about the lack of insurance options for GPs, the flexibility needed for less tech-savvy clinics, and the implications of data breaches on insurance practices. Tan assured that while support for GPs is being developed, the use of health records for insurance purposes is prohibited to protect patient privacy. Access to medical records logged under the NEHR will be distinguishable from records accessed through individual healthcare providers' systems. The Bill was subsequently passed without amendments.

• The Health Information Bill (HIB) aims to create a centralized national health record system to improve healthcare delivery and patient safety, addressing concerns about fragmented medical information and enhancing continuity of care.
• Stakeholders, including healthcare professionals and patients, expressed concerns about data privacy, the potential for increased medico-legal liabilities, and the need for clear guidelines on accessing and using health records.
• The Bill includes safeguards to protect sensitive health information, restrict access for non-clinical purposes (like employment and insurance), and allows patients to impose access restrictions on their records.
• Support measures for healthcare providers, especially smaller practices, will be implemented to assist with compliance, including funding for digital systems and ongoing technical support.
• The Ministry of Health will focus on patient education and engagement to build trust in the new system, ensuring that patients understand how their data will be used and protected.

• The Health Information Bill (HIB) aims to enhance healthcare delivery in Singapore by mandating all licensed healthcare providers to contribute key health information to the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR), facilitating better continuity of care for patients.
• The Bill addresses the challenges posed by Singapore's aging population and the need for coordinated care across various healthcare settings, moving from a hospital-centric model to community-based care.
• Concerns were raised regarding patient privacy, cybersecurity, and the potential burden on smaller healthcare providers, with calls for robust safeguards and support mechanisms to ensure compliance without compromising care accessibility.
• The Bill includes provisions to prevent the use of health data for employment and insurance purposes, aiming to build public trust in the healthcare system while allowing for necessary data sharing for public health and research.
• Implementation of the Bill is planned for early 2027, with ongoing discussions about support for healthcare providers, particularly smaller clinics, to meet the new requirements effectively.

• The Public Sector (Governance) (Amendment) Bill aims to enhance data sharing between public agencies and trusted external partners to improve service delivery while maintaining strong safeguards for data protection.
• The Bill introduces a framework for sharing data with external partners, requiring Ministerial authorization and compliance with specific Terms of Use, ensuring that data is shared only for legitimate public purposes.
• Concerns were raised regarding the potential for misuse of data, the need for transparency in data sharing practices, and the importance of maintaining public trust, especially in light of past incidents like the TraceTogether data access controversy.
• Members emphasized the necessity for clear accountability mechanisms, including organizational liability for data misuse and the establishment of a public register for data sharing directions to enhance transparency.
• The debate highlighted the balance between efficient data sharing for public good and the need for robust governance frameworks to protect citizens' privacy and ensure responsible data use.

Poh Li San asked about the government's plans for using agentic AI systems to automate public service job functions and the human resource policies for potentially redundant roles. Mrs. Josephine Teo explained that agentic AI systems can automate tasks like sending emails and updating records, enhancing efficiency but also posing risks. The government is taking a cautious approach to deploying these systems while investing in skills development to help public servants collaborate effectively with AI and focus on more complex responsibilities.

Gerald Giam Yean Song questioned the average time for the Traffic Police to issue summonses after speeding offences, as well as operational constraints causing delays and the potential for system reviews. K Shanmugam stated that it typically takes about two weeks to issue a notice to the registered vehicle owner after verifying the offence, but a backlog has emerged due to an increase in violations and a ransomware attack on a vendor. This backlog may extend the process to about a month before the notice is received by the owner, and the Traffic Police are working to resolve these issues.

Charlene Chen asked about the introduction of disclosure requirements or labeling standards for AI-generated images to help consumers identify misleading content. Gan Kim Yong indicated that while the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act protects against false claims, there are no plans for specific regulations regarding AI-generated content. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS) is promoting responsible business conduct and has developed tools to help businesses manage AI-related trading risks. Consumer education initiatives are in place, including workshops for seniors by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and resources for identifying misinformation and using AI responsibly.