Digital & technology

Gerald Giam Yean Song questioned the Minister for Digital Development and Information about plans to ensure the consolidated Simba-M1 entity invests in infrastructure to maintain network quality if the IMDA approves the deal. He also asked if the Ministry would require the entity to unbundle certain infrastructure to promote competition among Mobile Virtual Network Operators. Josephine Teo responded that the consolidation is being assessed under IMDA's Telecom and Media Competition Code, which includes consideration of feedback from the industry and public, as well as commitments from Simba and M1 to maintain service quality and competition.

Ng Shi Xuan asked if the Ministry for Social and Family Development would consider using AI technologies for reviewing CCTV footage in preschools and mandating tamper-proof recording systems. Masagos Zulkifli explained that all preschools are required to install CCTV cameras and comply with regulatory guidelines, but there is no specific mandate for tamper-proof systems. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) is exploring AI solutions for detecting safety hazards and potential misconduct and will use AI to enhance investigations. Regular reviews of CCTV footage are not mandated to avoid overburdening educators, emphasizing that CCTV is one of multiple measures for child safety in preschools.

Poh Li San asked about the adoption and training regarding generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) tools in the public service. Josephine Teo reported that around 80% of public officers have accessed the Government's chatbot, Pair Chat, with over 20,000 custom AIBots created for specific tasks. Various learning programs, including courses and webinars, are provided to help public officers understand and use AI tools. Additionally, a mandatory AI literacy course was launched for all public officers to promote responsible usage and understanding of AI.

Fadli Fawzi asked about the average processing times for QR code and passport clearance at land checkpoints, and what percentage of lanes are QR code only. The Minister of State for Home Affairs indicated that QR code clearance takes about 10 seconds and passport clearance takes about 13 seconds, with all lanes currently equipped for both clearances. Fadli questioned if the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority changes lane designations during peak hours and what measures are in place to encourage the use of the MyICA Mobile app. The Minister explained that while they promote QR code use for faster processing, designating lanes for QR code only can complicate operations and that they continuously review processes to enhance traveller experiences without compromising security.

Denise Phua Lay Peng questioned the government about measures to investigate and prevent the spread of illegal obscene materials involving minors on private messaging platforms. K Shanmugam responded that the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) was introduced in 2023 to enable the government to issue directives to online service providers to restrict access to such materials and aid investigations. The Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill has been proposed to enhance online safety, creating an Online Safety Commission (OSC) to assist victims and enable timely intervention against harmful materials. The OSC can issue directives to halt the circulation of abusive content when reports are received from victims.

The debate focused on the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill aimed at enhancing protections against online harms. Members expressed support for the establishment of the Commissioner of Online Safety (OSC), emphasizing its role in providing victims with timely relief and holding platforms accountable. Key points of concern included the operational efficiency of the OSC, ensuring that victims can easily report incidents, the need for clear communication on response times, and the importance of resources to handle numerous online harm cases. Discussions also touched on the Bill's balance between victim protection and preserving freedom of expression, with calls for comprehensive guidelines on what constitutes online harm and how platforms should respond. Amendments proposed by the Workers' Party to strengthen victim protections and clarify definitions of harms were debated and ultimately not adopted. The Bill is set to be a significant step in addressing online harms in Singapore.

• The Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill (OSRA) aims to enhance protections against online harms, particularly for victims, by establishing the Office of the Commissioner of Online Safety (OSC) and providing clear pathways for redress.
• The Bill introduces statutory torts for online harms, allowing victims to seek civil recourse against perpetrators and online platforms that fail to act on harmful content, thereby promoting accountability and expediting the response to online threats.
• Concerns were raised about potential amendments, including a proposal to raise the evidentiary threshold for action from "reason to suspect" to "reasonable grounds to believe", which could delay victim relief and obstruct timely intervention.
• The debate highlighted the need for effective support for victims, especially young people, including accessible reporting mechanisms, psychological support, and the importance of a trauma-informed approach in handling cases of online harm.
• Overall, while the Bill is seen as a significant step forward in online safety, there are calls for ongoing assessment of its implementation effectiveness, including the training of OSC staff and systems for transparency and accountability.

The Leader of the House introduced the Second Reading of the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill, which will feature speeches from three political officeholders. Minister Josephine Teo will present the Bill and cover broad policy areas, while Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam and Minister Edwin Tong will discuss specific aspects related to digital development and legal matters. Approval was granted to allow both Rahayu and Tong to speak twice and to lift the time limit on their speeches, accommodating the expected questions and the number of speakers. Members present indicated their assent to these procedural changes.

The Parliament discussed an amendment to the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018 aimed at providing directions for sharing and using information controlled by Singapore's public sector agencies. The amendment will also involve changes to the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 and other related Acts. The proposal was presented by Ms. Jasmin Lau, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, and is scheduled for a Second reading in a future parliamentary sitting.

A national electronic records system is proposed to ensure safe and secure management of individual health information for improved physical and mental well-being. The initiative includes amendments to the Human Organ Transplant Act 1987. The proposal was presented by the Senior Minister of State for Health, Dr. Koh Poh Koon, and will be discussed further in a future parliamentary sitting.

• Victor Lye proposed that the Ministry of Education encourage collaboration between the National Institute of Education and the Early Childhood Development Agency to explore effective learning methods for diverse student profiles.
• He suggested the formation of an interdisciplinary taskforce, including educators and scientists, to develop a strategy for integrating brain-based learning and adaptive AI in education if collaboration is not pursued.
• Desmond Lee acknowledged existing research collaborations among educational institutions and emphasized that the Ministry of Education bases its curriculum and teaching methods on various research fields, including neuroscience and educational psychology.