Digital & technology

Ang Wei Neng questioned whether it is mandatory for applicants to submit all supporting documents online through the ICA website and if elderly residents not comfortable with technology could submit applications physically at the office. K Shanmugam responded that the ICA aims to provide services through its "No Fuss, No Visit, and No Waiting" vision, with nearly 95% of services available digitally. He acknowledged that some elderly individuals may require assistance and can receive help at the ICA Services Centre.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim raised concerns about the need for increased public understanding of biometric data usage and security, particularly for vulnerable groups, following the Worldcoin case. Josephine Teo explained that the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) regulates biometric data collection and that the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) has issued guidelines for responsible use of biometric data. Teo emphasized the risks associated with compromised biometric data, which cannot be changed once breached, and the importance of organizations implementing robust security measures. The PDPC has been engaging with Worldcoin regarding their compliance with the PDPA and conducts outreach efforts to raise awareness among the public, including migrant workers, about data protection. Ultimately, individuals are encouraged to understand how their personal data will be used before providing consent.

Patrick Tay and other Members of Parliament raised concerns over a cybersecurity incident involving the Mobile Guardian Device Management Application, which wiped students' study notes and compromised personal data. The Minister for Education, Chan Chun Sing, explained that the Ministry is actively assisting affected students and is reviewing the use of technology in education to prevent future incidents. The Mobile Guardian app has been removed, and legal actions are being pursued against the supplier, with plans to implement a new device management solution by January 2025. He emphasized the importance of digital hygiene practices, including regular data backups, in light of the incident and the ongoing reliance on educational technology.

• Joan Pereira inquired about the investigation into the cause and vulnerabilities of the Mobile Guardian app breach in August 2024, whether a prior May 2024 report on security issues was related, and what additional measures are being taken to secure students' devices and data.
• Gerald Giam asked the Minister for Education about the dates of recent vulnerability assessments and penetration tests on Mobile Guardian, the number of public vulnerability reports, whether all identified issues were resolved before the breach, and the frequency of such tests on student devices.
• Chan Chun Sing responded that the Ministry of Education will provide an Oral Answer to these and other related parliamentary questions at the next available opportunity, referencing the official report.

• Christopher de Souza questioned the necessity of mandating more bank branch manpower to reduce queue times and assist seniors amid the digital shift.
• Gan Kim Yong highlighted existing measures such as digital ambassadors, literacy programs, and queue management systems to support less tech-savvy customers.
• The Monetary Authority of Singapore will supervise banks to ensure adequate attention to customer service and queue management, including manpower increases where needed.

• As of June 2024, over 35,000 Singaporeans have used CareersFinder since its beta launch in July 2023, and the tool is no longer in beta as of March 2024.
• Feedback has been positive, with users appreciating data-driven insights and exploring more opportunities; on average, jobseekers applied to 50% more occupations after using the tool.
• The government has enhanced CareersFinder based on user feedback, such as adding filters for course recommendations, and will continue iterative improvements.

• Foo Mee Har inquired if seniors facing difficulties with automated immigration clearance at Changi Airport will receive assistance and if ICA officers are trained to proactively help them.
• K Shanmugam stated that the automated lanes are designed with visual cues and videos for easy independent use.
• He confirmed that ICA officers are present onsite to approach and guide travellers who may need help during the process.

• The Government has established multiple laws to combat online hate speech and false content, including the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and the forthcoming Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, which enable Restraining Orders to remove inflammatory material and halt related communications.
• Authorities like the Infocomm Media Development Authority and the Ministry of Home Affairs can use the Broadcasting Act, the Online Criminal Harms Act, and the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act to disable or remove content that threatens racial or religious harmony.
• Beyond legal measures, efforts are underway to promote respectful online discourse through community partnerships and digital literacy programs aimed at fostering responsible Internet use and social cohesion.

• The Payment Services Act 2019 prohibits unlicensed persons from providing payment services, and selling WorldCoin accounts as a business may require a license, with police currently investigating seven individuals for such suspected offences.
• Authorities have issued public advisories warning that selling WorldCoin accounts could lead to misuse for criminal activities like money laundering and terrorism financing.
• The Personal Data Protection Act governs the handling of personal and biometric data, requiring organisations to implement strong data protection and security measures.
• Consumers are cautioned against transferring access to their digital payment token wallets or World IDs due to risks of misuse by third parties.

• The Minister confirmed that biometric data falls under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which requires organizations to obtain consent and implement security measures, with the PDPC monitoring and potentially enforcing compliance for entities like Worldcoin.
• To address misuse risks, the government focuses on enforcing PDPA obligations and conducting public education campaigns, including outreach events and notices to vulnerable groups, to raise awareness about biometric data protection.
• The government collaborates with international counterparts to monitor global developments and ensure a cohesive approach to managing biometric data collection risks by private entities.

• The bill aims to amend the Parliamentary Elections Act 1954 and Presidential Elections Act 1991 to ban online election ads containing certain digitally generated or manipulated content about candidates.
• It was presented by Minister of State Ms. Rahayu Mahzam on behalf of the Minister for Digital Development and Information and read for the first time.
• The bill is scheduled for a second reading at the next parliamentary sitting and will be printed for review.

• The debate centered on a case where a foreign preacher, Amir Hamza, entered Singapore using a passport with a different name and delivered an extremist sermon without a permit, prompting questions on border security and dormitory regulations.
• The Minister outlined multi-layered border safeguards, including visa requirements, pre-arrival risk assessments, watchlist screening, and biometric systems, noting that about 2,500 travelers are refused entry monthly and that no system is foolproof.
• Authorities are investigating the dormitory operator and others for offences under the Public Order Act, Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, and Foreign Employee Dormitories Act, with the Minister emphasizing rare occurrences of unauthorized events in dormitories.
• The Minister highlighted the balance between security and facilitation, with technology like AI and biometrics assisting but not replacing human judgment, and noted ongoing efforts to review visa processes and enhance detection of watchlisted individuals.

He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for Digital Development and Information about the accuracy of the Government's deepfake detection technologies, the differentiation between harmful deepfakes and legitimate satire, and the protocol for wrongly identified videos. Josephine Teo explained that the Government utilizes various tools for detecting manipulated content but does not disclose accuracy rates to prevent exploitation by malicious actors. The Government can act against online falsehoods under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) if the content violates public interest, while satire or parody is exempt unless harmful. There is ongoing study regarding potential safeguards against the misuse of AI and deepfakes, particularly during elections.

Syed Harun Alhabsyi and Saktiandi Supaat raised concerns regarding the IT outage caused by CrowdStrike, focusing on its impact on local businesses, the public service sector, lessons learned, and steps for improving IT resilience. The Minister for Digital Development and Information, Mrs. Josephine Teo, addressed the incident, noting that while government services were largely unaffected, some businesses experienced disruptions leading to customer delays. An internal taskforce has been set up to investigate the outage and reinforce resilience measures. The government emphasizes the importance of robust business continuity plans and encourages businesses to conduct risk assessments and leverage available resources to enhance their digital resilience.

Dr. Tan Wu Meng questioned the Deputy Prime Minister about updating the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) to account for the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on apprenticeships and on-the-job training, and whether this could include Industry Training Continuity Maps for highly skilled workers. Gan Kim Yong stated that the 23 ITMs were recently refreshed to adapt to disruptive technologies like AI, and emphasized the development of Jobs Transformation Maps (JTMs) to help understand job evolution and workforce reskilling. As of April 2024, 17 JTMs have been published, and initiatives such as SkillsFuture courses and Career Conversion Programmes are in place to support this transition. Companies like Oracle and Amazon Web Services are also enhancing AI training initiatives for students and professionals in Singapore.

Saktiandi Supaat raised concerns about whether additional regulatory measures would be implemented for "super apps" like Grab following its acquisition of Chope, to avoid negative impacts on competition and consumer welfare. Gan Kim Yong responded that the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) previously found no significant competition concerns regarding "super apps" during a 2020 study, as they still face competition from specialized providers. CCCS has since updated its guidelines to clarify how competition laws apply to these platforms and assess potential anti-competitive behavior. The Government will continue monitoring the e-commerce sector to determine if further reviews are necessary.

Joan Pereira raised concerns about measures to minimize risks of cross-border scams and fraud in instant money transfer initiatives, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly. Gan Kim Yong stated that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has established real-time payment linkages with India, Malaysia, and Thailand for low-value payments, enabling users to make instant, low-cost transactions. Financial institutions involved have implemented anti-scam controls, including a transaction notification threshold of $100 and a daily limit of $1,000 to mitigate scam risks. Users are encouraged to remain vigilant and adopt good online banking practices to protect themselves against fraud.

Gerald Giam Yean Song raised questions about the disclosure requirements for political parties or candidates paying digital content creators for posts related to election campaigns. Chan Chun Sing clarified that under the Online Election Advertising legislation, only authorized parties can publish paid content, and all payments related to election expenses must be declared by candidates and their agents, not by content creators. Paid online election advertising must specify it is sponsored and include the names of those who paid for and approved the content. Any payments to content creators for posts related to elections must be declared, including those made during the non-election period if they pertain to election management. Additionally, donations to political parties also require disclosure under existing legislation.

Ang Wei Neng raised concerns to the Minister for Home Affairs regarding a network of 95 accounts that posted on Singapore's leadership transition, seeking information on their reach, the origins of the accounts, and any subsequent posts. The Minister of State, Sun Xueling, reported that local reach was low, no further posts were detected post-10 May 2024, and investigations found no evidence of local involvement in the accounts. The episode highlighted Singapore’s vulnerability to Hostile Information Campaigns (HICs) and the need for public vigilance alongside legislative measures like the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act. Ang Wei Neng requested further information on monitoring resources and smaller scale hostile interferences.

Ang Wei Neng and other members questioned the Minister for Digital Development and Information about the impact of a global IT outage on July 19, 2024, caused by CrowdStrike's software update, focusing on affected websites, duration of outage recovery, and lessons learned. The Minister reported that essential government services were largely unaffected, but some businesses, particularly in the airline industry, experienced disruptions, with recovery for most systems occurring within a day. It was emphasized that while the government encourages businesses to develop contingency plans for resilience, mandating such measures could diminish ownership and accountability among system owners. The Minister highlighted existing frameworks for assessing supply chain risks and encouraged diversity in vendor use to enhance system resilience.