Digital & technology

• Pritam Singh raised concerns about potential glitches in the OneMap SchoolQuery system affecting the accuracy of home-school distance measurements for Primary 1 registration.
• Chan Chun Sing confirmed that the OneMap SchoolQuery provides the official distance used by the Ministry of Education for Primary 1 registration and stated that the information is updated annually.
• The Singapore Land Authority uses data from property developers to compute distances, and no errors or glitches have been identified by the Ministry of Education.
• Parents can seek assistance from the Ministry of Education regarding any discrepancies or queries related to home-school distance categories.

• Sylvia Lim raised concerns about the impact of scams that changed NRIC-registered addresses on Singaporeans' voting rights.
• The Elections Department compiles the Registers of Electors using data from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, which reported unauthorized address changes.
• The ICA has contacted affected individuals to verify and correct their addresses, with updates to the Registers scheduled for 1 February 2025.
• A public inspection period will follow the updates, allowing voters to check and correct their information, with assistance available for those unable to do so electronically.
• Voters are encouraged to verify their voting status and details during the inspection period to ensure accuracy in the Registers.

• The debate focused on the recent incident of unauthorized address changes via the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) online system, raising concerns about vulnerabilities in digital public services.
• Members of Parliament inquired about lessons learned, measures to prevent future unauthorized access, and the potential implementation of facial verification and liveness checks to counteract fraud.
• There were calls for a comprehensive review of all e-Government services to identify vulnerabilities and assess the security of workflows and processes beyond just cyber elements.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs reported that no other transactional services were found to be at risk in the same manner as the unauthorized changes, and emphasized the importance of regular risk assessments and vulnerability testing.
• GovTech is actively enhancing the security of Singpass through ongoing improvements, including penetration testing and fraud analytics, to safeguard against unauthorized transactions.

• The debate focused on the unauthorized changes of home addresses through the ICA's e-service, with questions raised about assistance for victims and punishment for perpetrators.
• The Minister of State for Home Affairs explained that 99 individuals were affected, with 71 successful unauthorized changes, and measures are being taken to restore their correct addresses and secure their Singpass accounts.
• Thirteen suspects have been arrested, with four charged under the Computer Misuse Act, facing potential imprisonment and fines.
• The ICA has introduced additional security measures, including face verification, and is reviewing the procedures for changing addresses to prevent future incidents.
• Concerns were raised about the timing of the suspension of the eCOA service, with the Minister acknowledging that earlier action could have been taken once the modus operandi was established.

Don Wee raised concerns regarding safeguards and regulations the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will implement to protect personal data, particularly NRIC numbers, amid public anxiety about misuse and identity theft. Rachel Ong inquired if banks would need to enhance account authentication methods beyond NRIC numbers and how this will align with the phasing out of masked NRIC use. Gan Kim Yong, on behalf of the Prime Minister, stated that NRIC numbers alone cannot facilitate payments and banks are reviewing their practices to ensure compliance with updated Personal Data Protection Commission guidelines. The updates to these guidelines are set to follow public consultations, with MAS collaborating with financial institutions to enhance data protection.

Saktiandi Supaat raised a question regarding potential regulatory interventions for social media, inspired by Australia's ban on social media for children under 16 and Albania's TikTok shutdown. He suggested that the Ministry of Digital Development and Information consider creating age-appropriate versions of social media content for children and teenagers in Singapore. Mrs. Josephine Teo referenced her previous answers to related parliamentary questions, inviting Saktiandi to clarify any points if needed.

Patrick Tay Teck Guan questioned the rationale behind the government's decision to allow public disclosure of NRIC numbers on ACRA's website and how it aligns with the Advisory Guidelines on Personal Data Protection Act, given that public agencies are exempt from its Data Protection Provisions. Josephine Teo responded by indicating that this issue was previously addressed in a statement made by the Minister for Digital Development and Information during a Parliament Sitting on January 8, 2025.

Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant asked about the reasons behind recent telecommunications disruptions in Singapore, specifically mentioning a Singtel service disruption on 24 October 2024, and the measures being taken to address these issues. Josephine Teo referred to prior discussions on telecommunications disruptions and indicated that the government's response to a similar question had been published in the Hansard for the 12 November 2024 Parliament Sitting. Teo directed attention to the documented measures regarding penalties for service outages affecting various telecommunications services.

Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of illegal gambling websites blocked in Singapore, the continued access of residents to these sites, and the possibility of allowing families of problem gamblers to block bank accounts used for gambling. K Shanmugam responded that over 3,800 illegal gambling websites have been blocked, along with more than 145,000 illegal transactions totaling around $37 million. Despite these efforts, illegal operators can create new sites, and public reporting of illegal gambling is encouraged. The government offers support for problem gamblers through counseling services, but there are currently no plans to allow families to block bank accounts of problem gamblers, as the rate of pathological gambling remains low and stable.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked for the total projected expenditure of the Next Generation Electronic Medical Record (NGEMR) system and its impact on public healthcare costs, along with measures to ensure it provides value for money without increasing costs for patients. Ong Ye Kung stated that the phased roll-out of NGEMR was completed at some institutions by July 2024, with full implementation costing the government $1.5 billion over 10 years. NGEMR will replace over 100 legacy IT systems, improving care coordination by allowing doctors access to comprehensive patient records across institutions. The system will also enhance operational efficiency and health outcomes through the use of analytical tools.

The debate addressed the incident involving the unmasking of NRIC numbers on ACRA's new Bizfile portal, acknowledging public concerns about privacy and data security. ACRA suspended the disclosure of full NRIC numbers after it was made available from December 9 to December 13, 2024, due to a miscommunication regarding a directive from the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI). The incident highlighted gaps in communication between MDDI and ACRA, leading to an ongoing review to assess response protocols and prevent future occurrences. The government reiterated that the public disclosure of NRIC numbers is permitted under certain circumstances but emphasized the importance of proper usage to enhance data protection.

The Minister for Digital Development and Information addressed concerns regarding the National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) policy and the recent Bizfile incident, clarifying that there is no intention to allow wide exposure of NRIC numbers. The Minister emphasized the importance of treating NRIC numbers as personal data and outlined the government's commitment to protecting this information, including guidelines against using NRIC numbers as authenticators or passwords. The Minister acknowledged past incorrect uses of NRIC numbers and indicated that the transition to safer practices would focus first on public agencies before engaging the private sector, with plans for public education on the risks involved. Lastly, the Minister assured that existing data protection standards would remain stringent, aiming to prevent misuse of NRIC numbers while enabling their necessary use as unique identifiers.

Denise Phua Lay Peng raised concerns about non-digital access to services provided by the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB) for individuals who are illiterate, low-income, or not digitally proficient. Murali Pillai, the Minister of State for Law, confirmed that LAB offers in-person services and assistance for these applicants at the Ministry of Law Services Centre (MSC), including legal advice and means testing. Phua emphasized the need for better communication about these services to ensure citizens are aware and not directed to digital portals. Murali acknowledged the importance of addressing this issue and will relay the feedback for improved outreach.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked for updates on the roll-out of On-Board Units (OBU) for the Electronic Road Pricing 2.0 system and whether installations would be completed by the end of 2025. Dr. Amy Khor reported that over 217,000 vehicles had been fitted with OBUs by December 2024, and the timeline has been adjusted to complete installations by 2026. Yong inquired about third-party applications for the ERP 2.0 system, and Khor confirmed three such apps have been developed, along with the LTA's own app, encouraging further collaboration with developers. The OBU features include information on school zones, traffic cameras, car park availability, and they plan to introduce reminders for missed payments and dynamic traffic messages.

Tan Wu Meng raised concerns about high-rise littering, querying how many cases NEA considered for surveillance camera deployment and the feasibility of such measures. Foo Mee Har and Yeo Wan Ling inquired about the use of technology like AI and drones to improve detection and enforcement of high-rise littering, with Yeo also asking about complaint statistics and enforcement success rates. Dr. Amy Khor reported a decrease in high-rise littering complaints, detailed NEA's enforcement strategies, including the use of cameras and community involvement, and acknowledged difficulties in capturing offenders, particularly in complex block designs. The discussion emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance detection technology, community cooperation, and addressing unique cases involving mental health issues among offenders.

• Leong Mun Wai questioned the absence of transaction details without lodged caveats in URA's e-Service for private residential property transactions.
• He also inquired about the possibility of modifying the e-Service to include these transactions.
• Desmond Lee responded that property transaction information is accessible through the Integrated Land Information Service, regardless of caveat status.
• He explained that URA's e-Service focuses on caveat data and developer submissions to provide timely market insights.
• The e-Service is designed to complement other URA data services, offering updates on market trends.

• Ms. Hany Soh raised concerns about suspected scam calls where individuals cited full NRIC numbers, potentially obtained from ACRA's Bizfile portal.
• She inquired whether the Singapore Police Force had received any reports related to these scam calls.
• Mrs. Josephine Teo responded that the issue would be addressed in a Ministerial Statement by the Minister for Digital Development and Information on 8 January 2025.

• Mr. Liang Eng Hwa inquired about the Ministry of Digital Development and Information's plans for public education regarding the use of NRIC numbers as unique identifiers.
• He emphasized the need to move away from the practice of using masked NRIC numbers.
• Mrs. Josephine Teo responded that the question would be addressed in a Ministerial Statement during a future Parliament Sitting on 8 January 2025.

• Gerald Giam raised a question about the possibility of creating a separate unique identifier for Singapore residents, distinct from the NRIC number, for digital and administrative use.
• He inquired whether this identifier could be designed to accommodate updates in the event of data breaches or leaks.
• Giam also asked if any feasibility studies had been conducted regarding the implementation of such an identifier.
• Mrs. Josephine Teo responded that the question would be addressed in a Ministerial Statement during a future Parliament Sitting on January 8, 2025.

• Gerald Giam raised concerns about the privacy risks associated with the current NRIC number structure and suggested improvements to enhance privacy.
• He proposed transitioning to a system that avoids identifiable information and includes better cryptographic safeguards or an alternative checksum system.
• Giam also inquired if individuals could change their NRIC numbers in cases of severe privacy breaches leading to misuse or financial loss.
• Mrs. Josephine Teo indicated that these questions would be addressed in a Ministerial Statement scheduled for January 8, 2025.