Digital & technology — Topics

6 Aug 2024

Support for Seniors and Users Who Cannot Afford to Transit to 4G/5G Services with Gradual Retirement of 3G Network

Miss Cheryl Chan raised concerns about whether active communication and support were provided to seniors and low-income users during the 3G network retirement, especially for those who cannot afford to transition to 4G or 5G services.
Mrs Josephine Teo responded that Mobile Network Operators have been actively reaching out to 3G subscribers through multiple channels, including direct calls and home deliveries for vulnerable groups, with support from community partners to ensure awareness.
The government has required Mobile Network Operators to offer fair migration plans, such as no extra costs for two years, free SIM upgrades, and affordable phone options, including refurbished devices for low-income users.
M1 has already completed its migration and begun phasing out 3G, while Singtel and StarHub will delay their retirement to November 2024 to give subscribers more time to transition.

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6 Aug 2024

Directives to Mobile Operators to Remove Signalling System 7 and Diameter Protocols to Resolve Network Vulnerabilities

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked whether IMDA directed mobile operators to remove SS7 and Diameter protocols or resolve their vulnerabilities.
Mrs Josephine Teo explained that SS7 and Diameter are standard, internationally approved protocols with no more secure alternatives for 3G/4G networks.
Mobile operators must implement security measures like firewalls, safeguards, and encryption to address these protocol vulnerabilities, aligned with international standards.
5G networks have moved to more secure protocols by design, eliminating the need for such older protocols.

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6 Aug 2024

Measures to Ensure Use of iPads for Educational Purposes Do Not Expose Students to Online Harms

Christopher de Souza asked how schools will prevent iPads from giving students easy access to online sexual content and predators.
Chan Chun Sing explained that all personal learning devices have a Device Management Application to block undesirable content and schools use website filtering systems to ensure a safe online environment.
He added that Cyber Wellness lessons teach students to recognize digital risks and that parents are encouraged to guide and monitor their children’s online activities using resources from MOE and schools.

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6 Aug 2024

Tracking of Scams Perpetuated through Deepfake Video and Images

Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the number of scams involving deepfake videos and images is being tracked and, if so, the reported numbers to date.
K Shanmugam replied that the Police have not been tracking such cases, despite receiving some reports, and noted that the number of incidents is not high.
The response referenced similar parliamentary questions from the April 2024 sittings, indicating consistency in the approach to this issue.

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6 Aug 2024

Shortening Average Processing Time for Lawyer-Inmate Correspondence

Dennis Tan asked about the average processing times for lawyer-inmate correspondence via hardcopy and e-Letters over the past three years, and whether a separate e-Letters system with shorter processing times could be introduced for lawyers.
The Minister responded that hardcopy correspondence from lawyers takes about five working days to process on average, meeting the ten-day service standard, with urgent requests handled on a best-effort basis.
For e-Letters, the average processing time is two days, but the system is currently designed for families and friends; the Singapore Prison Service is considering enhancements to allow lawyers to use it for inmate communication.

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6 Aug 2024

Cases of Singaporeans Acting as Money Mules and Plans to Arrest Trend

The number of Singaporeans investigated for acting as money mules increased from over 7,800 in 2022 to over 9,600 in 2023.
Legislative amendments to the CDSA and CMA were passed and operationalised in 2024 to strengthen enforcement against money mules and misuse of Singpass.
Public education has been intensified across multiple platforms, including digital media, outdoor advertising, and collaboration with banks to update advisories.
Targeted outreach to youths, who form a significant portion of money mules, includes crime prevention talks in schools with the Ministry of Education.
Authorities do not track the age or nationality of money mules, so specific age profiles are unavailable.

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6 Aug 2024

Reported Criminal Acts Involving Alleged Image-based Sexual Abuse Cases

Minister K Shanmugam reported that from 2021 to 2023, the Singapore Police Force received an average of about 340 cases per year involving the possession or distribution of voyeuristic, intimate, or abusive images under specific Penal Code sections.
He stated that the police do not track the number of such cases involving deepfakes or manipulated images and videos using generative artificial intelligence tools.
The Minister’s response did not include a breakdown by the victim's gender or specify how many cases resulted in further action, as the initial question had sought.

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6 Aug 2024

Impact of Recent Software Update Outage on Financial Institutions and Lessons Learnt

A faulty security update from a global vendor caused IT disruptions, but major Singapore financial institutions faced limited or no impact on critical customer-facing systems, with only some internal systems affected.
The Singapore Exchange experienced a temporary disruption to post-trade services, leading to a limited number of trades being rolled over, but other trading and clearing services continued normally.
Operations at affected financial institutions were restored to normal by the next business day, Monday, 22 July 2024.
The incident underscores the need for financial institutions to implement robust risk management processes, especially for third-party dependencies, and to build rapid recovery capabilities to minimise customer impact.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore expects all financial institutions to strengthen their operational resilience and will continue to work with them on these improvements.

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6 Aug 2024

E-commerce Scams Reported since Launch of E-Commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings

Gan Thiam Poh asked the Ministry for Home Affairs for monthly e-commerce scam data since the Transaction Safety Ratings (TSR) was launched in May 2022 and its effectiveness assessment.
Minister K Shanmugam reported that e-commerce scams rose from 4,762 in 2022 to 9,783 in 2023, but average losses per case remain low.
Platforms like Shopee, Amazon, and Qoo10 that implemented TSR-recommended safety features saw significant reductions in scams, while those that did not saw increases.
The TSR has helped prevent scams by incentivizing better safety features and educating users, with additional measures like revised Technical Reference 76 and the E-Commerce Code of Practice.
The ministry urged all online platforms, including social media, to enhance safety, as scammers exploit various channels beyond traditional e-commerce marketplaces.

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6 Aug 2024

Flights Affected by CrowdStrike Outage and Enhancing Resilience of Singapore's Air Hub Status in Face of Such Threats

Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for Transport about the number of flights affected by the CrowdStrike IT outage at Changi Airport, the lessons learned, and how to enhance Singapore's air hub resilience; Chee Hong Tat responded that 108 departing flights were delayed by more than 30 minutes, one departing flight and its arriving turnaround were cancelled, and business continuity plans like manual check-in were activated to maintain operations.
Key lessons included the need to review and improve business continuity plans with airlines and ground handlers, such as implementing back-up measures more efficiently and adjusting check-in processes to manage passenger congestion and prioritize earlier flights.
To enhance resilience, Changi Airport Group is collaborating with airlines and handlers to incorporate these learnings, focusing on better planning and execution of manual and alternative procedures during system disruptions.

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6 Aug 2024

Impact of CrowdStrike Outage on Singapore Government Services and Cybersecurity Measures

Members of Parliament raised concerns about strengthening response and recovery for essential digital services, requiring robust business continuity plans, and regular testing to minimise outage impacts following the CrowdStrike incident.
Questions focused on learning points for Singapore’s cybersecurity strategy, protecting public systems from single-point failures, and reducing dependency on a small number of technology providers.
The debate called for better coordination with third-party software suppliers, regular drills for incident scenarios, and safeguards against hidden technological dependencies in critical infrastructure.
The Minister indicated that the questions would be addressed in an oral reply on 7 August 2024, referring to a specific official report on Singapore’s preparedness for global technology outages.

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6 Aug 2024

Regulations to Disallow Unlicensed Moneylender Advertisements on Social Media Platforms and via Communication Applications

The Minister confirmed that existing laws, including the Criminal Procedure Code and the Online Criminal Harms Act, empower the Government to direct telcos and online platforms to restrict or terminate services used by unlicensed moneylenders.
Between January 2023 and May 2024, authorities flagged over 4,500 phone numbers and more than 5,300 online accounts and advertisements for termination due to unlicensed moneylending activities.
The Police collaborate with online platforms on proactive measures to pre-emptively detect and block accounts involved in unlicensed moneylending to protect Singapore end users.

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6 Aug 2024

Process for Coordinating Technical Takedown, Legal Assistance and Victim Support across Ministries for Deepfake-related Crimes

The Minister stated that police protocols for takedown, investigation, and victim support do not differentiate between deepfake-related crimes and other online crimes, with directions issued under the Online Criminal Harms Act and compliance enforced through Codes of Practice.
Response times and interagency coordination for deepfake incidents are handled similarly to other online crimes, with the Anti-Scam Centre model not specifically differentiated, though police investigate predicate offences and collaborate with other agencies as needed.
To address the technical challenges of deepfakes, authorities are developing detection technologies through the Home Team Science and Technology Agency and the Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety.

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6 Aug 2024

Considerations for Ministry of Digital Development and Information as New Ministry Name

The Ministry of Communications and Information was renamed to Ministry of Digital Development and Information to reflect the expanding digital agenda across government and society, encompassing areas like AI governance, digital infrastructure, and inclusive digital services.
The renaming underscores a natural progression from merged digital functions and existing work, aiming to give greater urgency to national digital development efforts amid technological advancements and emerging risks.
The Ministry will continue and deepen engagement with trade associations and chambers of commerce, which are key partners in shaping digital economy strategies, upskilling workers, and supporting enterprise digitalization.

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6 Aug 2024

Measures to Address and Mitigate Risks of Social Media Addiction among Students

Edward Chia asked the Ministry of Education about measures to address and mitigate social media addiction risks among students, especially on short video platforms.
Chan Chun Sing highlighted that Cyber Wellness lessons teach students to balance online and offline activities, recognize digital risks, and avoid excessive social media use to protect their mental and emotional well-being.
Schools provide support through trained counsellors who assist students at risk of excessive social media use, collaborate with parents, and refer them to community resources for specialized help.
Parents are emphasized as key guides in monitoring their children’s online activities, with schools sharing resources and strategies to help parents manage technology use.

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2 Jul 2024

Enhancing MSO's OneService App and "Help Neighbour" Function to Facilitate Locating and Helping Seniors with Dementia

Miss Rachel Ong asked the Ministry for National Development to consider adding location-based SMS alerts for missing seniors with dementia via the OneService app.
She also inquired about enhancing the app’s “Help Neighbour” function to better connect residents with community help needs and asked for a timeline for its release.
Desmond Lee responded that the “Help Neighbour” function already exists for alerting agencies about vulnerable individuals and that missing person alerts are broadcast via app notifications, but SMS was not adopted due to limitations like not supporting photos.
He noted that further enhancements to mobilize volunteers and track help would require a new operating model and further study with social agencies.
Residents interested in helping are encouraged to volunteer through SG Cares and the Silver Generation Office while feasibility is assessed.

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2 Jul 2024

Takeaways from Police's Multi-Jurisdiction Operation's Arrest of Perpetrators of Malware-operated Scams and Cybercriminals

The Minister highlighted that enforcement against transnational cybercriminals is challenging due to their use of technology to cover tracks and their overseas bases, making recovery of scam proceeds difficult and reliant on international cooperation.
The recent arrests and dismantling of scam infrastructure were achieved through strong partnerships with law enforcement agencies in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, underscoring the importance of cross-border collaboration.
Despite successful operations, many cybercriminals remain beyond reach, so prevention through public education and industry collaboration on upstream measures with banks, telcos, and platforms is emphasized as the most effective strategy.

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2 Jul 2024

WhatsApp Channel to Provide Seniors Information on Scams or Fake News in All Four Official Languages

Miss Rachel Ong proposed creating a dedicated WhatsApp channel in all four official languages to alert seniors about scams and fake news.
The Minister confirmed that two existing WhatsApp channels already provide scam alerts in four languages: gov.sg and the NCPC ScamAlert channel.
Additional targeted outreach for seniors includes collaborations with community organizations and the SG Cyber Safe Seniors Programme.
A handbook on cyber safety in four languages is distributed to seniors through digital ambassadors.
The government’s current approach leverages multiple channels and programs to address seniors’ needs without creating a separate WhatsApp channel.

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2 Jul 2024

Steps Taken by Police to Combat Fixed Deposit Scams

The Singapore Police Force combats fixed deposit scams by issuing public advisories and sharing them in its Weekly Scam Report, detailing how scammers impersonate banks via SMS to lure victims with high interest rates and trick them into transferring money to fraudulent accounts.
The Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams has implemented measures such as mandating SMS Sender ID registration with IMDA to block unregistered scam SMSes, launching ScamShield to identify and block scam calls and SMSes, and collaborating with telcos to terminate mobile lines used in scams.
Police urge the public to adopt precautionary steps: add the ScamShield app and security features, check for scam signs by verifying offers with official bank hotlines, and tell family and friends while reporting any fraudulent activity immediately.

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2 Jul 2024

Measures to Ensure Independent Access to Banking Services for Visually Impaired Persons

Banks have introduced talking ATMs with audio guidance and Braille, trained staff to assist visually impaired customers, and enhanced digital banking apps for better compatibility with voice command software.
From 2021 to 2023, MAS received four cases of feedback about visually impaired persons facing issues with internet and phone banking, which were resolved with bank assistance.
Visually impaired individuals can contact their banks for help, and MAS expects financial institutions to handle all customer feedback effectively and promptly.

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