Digital & technology — Topics

29 Feb 2024

Potential Scale and Scope of Job Displacement Due To AI Adoption

Mr Yip Hon Weng questioned whether the potential scale of AI-driven job displacement in Singapore is being underestimated, given the country’s rapid adoption of generative AI, and asked if the Ministry would assess such displacement and engage stakeholders to incentivize employee upskilling.
The Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, Dr Janil Puthucheary, acknowledged the importance of the topic but deferred detailed responses to the Ministry’s upcoming Committee of Supply debate, indicating that the issue will be addressed more comprehensively then.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

28 Feb 2024

Measures in Place to Manage Gaming Addiction among Youths

The Ministry focuses on promoting healthy gaming habits and age-appropriate access through partnerships with public, private, and people sectors, supporting parents in guiding children’s online behavior.
Initiatives include school-based cyber wellness education, the Digital for Life portal with resources on healthy gaming, and a forthcoming Parents’ Toolbox to be launched from 2024.
A new Code of Practice for App Distribution Services is being introduced to mitigate exposure to harmful gaming apps, requiring platforms like Google Play and Apple App Store to implement systems for this purpose.
The Ministry does not have data on gaming addiction prevalence as it requires medical diagnosis, and parents are advised to seek help from healthcare institutions or community partners if concerned.
Preventive measures emphasize education and resources for youths and families, with schools and libraries providing programmes to encourage responsible online habits.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

28 Feb 2024

Committee of Supply – Head J (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) projects a defence expenditure of around $20.2 billion for the upcoming financial year, a 2.5% increase, with the share of GDP spent on defence expected to remain around 3% over the next decade, reflecting steady long-term investment rather than reactive spending.
MINDEF is enhancing the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) capabilities through major acquisitions like the F-35A and F-35B fighter jets, the commissioning of the Invincible-class submarines, and the introduction of unmanned systems, including fully autonomous surface vessels for the Navy and micro-UAVs for Army soldiers, to address evolving threats.
To counter emerging risks such as drone attacks and cyber threats, MINDEF is developing countermeasures like jammers and smart fire-control systems, expanding digital training through the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), and conducting exercises like the Critical Infrastructure Defence Exercise (CIDeX) to strengthen national cyber defence.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

28 Feb 2024

Ensuring Social Media Platforms' Rules of Engagement for Online Advertisements are In Line with Local Regulations

The Ministry relies on the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (ASAS) and the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice (SCAP) to regulate all advertisements, including those on social media, ensuring they are legal, decent, honest, and truthful.
Designated social media platforms must follow the Code of Practice for Online Safety to minimize harmful content, including protecting children from detrimental targeted advertisements.
ASAS uses a complaints-based approach to review potential breaches, and advertisers can be compelled to amend or withdraw ads, with recalcitrant companies facing investigations and potential court action.
The Ministry encourages proactive dialogues with social media platforms and advises companies and individuals on responsible advertising, though embedded local advisory notices are not currently implemented.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

27 Feb 2024

Making Automated Clearance Lanes at Border Checkpoints More Accessible, User-friendly and Secure Against Unauthorised Entry

Automated clearance lanes process travellers up to 40% faster than manual counters, require less space and fewer officers, and are being expanded with over 160 new lanes installed in 2023 and 230 more planned this year to accommodate rising volumes.
Special Assistance Lanes (SALs) are wider and designed for travellers with disabilities, families with elderly or young children, and wheelchair users, with 58 installed across key checkpoints in 2023 and more to be added this year.
The new Automated Border Control System (ABCS) uses biometrics and data analytics to detect forged passports, high-risk travellers, and unauthorised entry, with on-site officers receiving alerts and conducting profiling.
ICA systems comply with stringent security and data protection requirements and undergo regular audits to mitigate cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
The ABCS will allow all foreign visitors, regardless of nationality or visit frequency, to use automated lanes, replacing existing lanes and manual counters progressively.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

27 Feb 2024

Ensuring No Vulnerable Groups are Impacted by Decline in Readily Available Street-hail Taxis

The Ministry for Transport will ensure street-hail taxi services remain accessible for vulnerable groups, including seniors and special needs individuals, through ongoing reviews of the point-to-point transport regulatory framework.
The SG Digital Office under IMDA provides digital skills training, including how to use ride-hailing apps, to help less digitally savvy individuals through the Digital Skills for Life Framework.
IMDA collaborates with partners like Grab, Gojek, and ComfortDelGro to develop resources supporting digital literacy, ensuring vulnerable groups are not left behind in the transition to app-based transport.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

27 Feb 2024

Preventing Online Messaging Platforms from Engaging in Illegal Activities such as Sale of Prohibited Drugs

The Singapore government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, is operationalizing the Online Criminal Harms Act to issue directions and codes of practice to online platforms, requiring them to disrupt illegal activities like drug sales.
The Central Narcotics Bureau has noted a 17% decrease in suspected drug offenders using Telegram for transactions, while reporting mechanisms like in-app reporting, police reports, and anonymous i-Witness reports are available for the public.
Authorities can demand compliance from platforms within 24 hours under the new law and may restrict access to non-compliant services to prevent criminal activities from reaching Singapore users.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

26 Feb 2024

Cost of Developing and Maintaining IT Systems, Helplines and Processes to Disburse CDC Vouchers and Onboarding Merchants

The CDC Vouchers Scheme, launched in June 2020 as a paper-based initiative, evolved into a nationwide digital scheme in December 2021, with the latest tranche starting on 3 January 2024 to help households with living costs and support local merchants.
The digital scheme was developed through collaboration among CDCs, PA, GovTech, IMDA, MCI, ESG, and community partners, using existing government resources like RedeemSG and Digital Ambassadors to ensure cost-effectiveness and inclusivity.
The total cost of developing and maintaining IT systems, helplines, and processes for disbursing vouchers, including civil servant man-hours, was not specified in the response.
The total cost of onboarding merchants to the system was also not provided in the response, with an emphasis on leveraging whole-of-government and community approaches for sustainability.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

26 Feb 2024

Specific Targets for Singapore's Global Share of Aggregate Computing Power

The government has not set a specific target for Singapore’s global share of aggregate computing power, as needs depend on dynamic public and private sector workloads.
Singapore is pushing for more data centres with sustainability measures, aiming to make them environmentally friendly in energy use and operations.
The government aims to ensure Singaporeans benefit from digitalisation through better jobs and training, including for microenterprises, students, and individuals.
While no absolute computing power target exists, there are plans to ramp up GPU acquisition to support national AI strategies and government applications.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

16 Feb 2024

Penalties and Measures against Sale of Illegal Health Products

Yip Hon Weng asked about increasing penalties, using technology for enforcement, the percentage of overseas sellers, challenges in acting against foreign sellers, and plans for international collaboration.
The Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, stated that current penalties are a fine up to $100,000 and/or up to three years imprisonment, which is higher than in 2007, and that HSA uses surveillance and e-commerce tools to detect illegal products.
In 2023, about 14% of illegal health product listings on major local platforms were from overseas sellers; HSA relies on local platforms to remove these and works with international partners, including INTERPOL operations that removed over 7,000 listings.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

16 Feb 2024

Regulation for Use of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy in Therapeutic Settings

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked whether the Ministry of Health has approved Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for public and private therapeutic settings, how its use is regulated and monitored, and if there are plans to evaluate its effectiveness.
The Senior Minister of State for Health, Dr Janil Puthucheary, responded that VRET is a nascent psychological therapy not currently approved for treating disorders in Singapore, and research is ongoing to assess its effectiveness.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2024

Security Measures and Alternative Means for Checking Students' PSEA Balances

Leong Mun Wai raised concerns about the PSEA balance checking process, questioning the reliance on a 24-hour hotline and highlighting potential data privacy and security issues, as anyone with an NRIC number could check another person's balance, while also asking why an online system with Singpass authentication was not available.
Chan Chun Sing responded that the hotline provides convenience and is supplemented by annual statements and post-transaction alerts, and that MOE is already enhancing the system to require Singpass authentication and will integrate PSEA functions into a future IT system.
The debate focused on balancing convenience with security, with the Ministry committing to upgrade the system to address privacy concerns while maintaining accessibility for account holders.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

7 Feb 2024

Singpass Facial Verification Security Preparedness and Safeguards

Hazel Poa asked the Prime Minister if any breaches of Singpass facial verification have been detected since its launch and what safeguards exist against deepfakes or AI clones.
Mrs Josephine Teo, responding for the Prime Minister, stated that no breaches have been detected since the launch of facial verification on Singpass.
The Government Technology Agency (GovTech) continuously monitors, tests, and works on improvements for Singpass facial verification security.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Feb 2024

Allowing Banks to Adopt Singpass as Primary Method to Verify and Update Addresses of Account Holders

Yip Hon Weng asked if the government will allow banks to use Singpass as the main method for verifying and updating account holders' addresses.
Lawrence Wong, speaking for the Prime Minister, said banks are already permitted to use Singpass services like Myinfo for online banking.
The adoption of Singpass at bank branches varies and depends on each bank's considerations, such as customer profiles and IT integration needs.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore encourages banks to integrate Singpass into branch systems to give customers a choice between digital and physical verification.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Feb 2024

Balancing Needs of Developers and Data Owners in Proposed Model AI Governance Framework

Ms See Jinli Jean proposed a licensing model to balance AI developers' need for training data with fair compensation for data owners, and called for consultations on the AI governance framework to include workers and consumer groups beyond tech firms.
The government emphasized Singapore’s consultative approach in developing AI governance, citing past frameworks and open feedback processes, and highlighted international collaborations like the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance.
The draft Model AI Governance Framework for Generative AI is open for public feedback until 15 March 2024, and stakeholders, including tripartite partners, are encouraged to contribute.
Singapore’s AI governance strategy aims to foster a trusted environment for AI use, with continuous review to keep frameworks relevant amid evolving technology and global developments.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

6 Feb 2024

Roll-out of Autonomous Buses and Taxis

The Minister reported that as of January 2024, five autonomous bus trials and one autonomous taxi trial have been conducted in Singapore, with one bus trial at Ngee Ann Polytechnic still ongoing.
Main impediments to faster rollout include the need for AV developers to enhance capabilities for local conditions, such as perception and sensing in complex traffic and inclement weather.
The government plans to continue supporting AV trials and address technological challenges to enable future deployment, though specific timelines for full service rollout were not detailed in this response.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Feb 2024

Lessons from Initial Roll-out of Plan to Transit Commuters to SimplyGo Platform and Breakdown of Expenditure Arising from Extension of Timeline

The Minister reiterated that his earlier reply addressed questions on the $40 million expenditure breakdown for extending the card-based ticketing system, the annual cost of running both systems in parallel, and the number of feedback cases and concerns about visibility of fare deductions.
The debate highlighted lessons from the SimplyGo roll-out, including the need to engage the public and evaluate feedback during implementation, and to better gauge user experience in future transport policies.
Questions were raised on technical feasibility, such as whether real-time fare deduction information can be coded into SimplyGo EZ-Link card readers, with the Minister pointing to his previous response for details.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Feb 2024

Measures to Enhance Public Technological Understanding to Combat Cybercrime and Deepfake Content

The government is coordinating across agencies like MCI, MHA, SPF, IMDA, and CSA to protect Singaporeans from online harms including AI-enabled scams and deepfakes, with social media platforms required to remove scam content and the Online Criminal Harms Act empowering the government to direct platforms to block malicious accounts and content.
Initiatives such as the upcoming Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety and collaboration with the Home Team Science and Technology Agency aim to enhance deepfake detection capabilities and industry knowledge sharing.
Public education campaigns like the National Library Board’s S.U.R.E., CSA’s “Unseen Enemy,” and SPF’s “I can ACT against scams,” along with the Scam Public Education Office, are being rolled out to improve digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness.
The government will continue to monitor and adapt strategies to address the rapidly evolving technological landscape and emerging threats.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Feb 2024

Regulations to Tackle Deepfake Software Being Used in Scam and Fraud Cases

The Ministry of Communications and Information and related agencies are coordinating to combat deepfake-enabled scams through measures like the Online Criminal Harms Act, which allows the government to direct platforms to remove or block scam content.
Initiatives such as the upcoming Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety and partnerships with law enforcement aim to enhance detection and response to AI-generated audio and videos.
Public education campaigns like S.U.R.E. and the "I can ACT against scams" effort are being rolled out to improve digital literacy and scam awareness among Singaporeans.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source

5 Feb 2024

Measures to Prevent Patients' Personal and Financial Data Breach in Healthcare Institutions

Wan Rizal sought measures to protect patients' data and steps to enhance security after a nurse was charged with stealing bank details.
Ong Ye Kung confirmed the incident involved unauthorized access to patients' phones, with no IT system breach, and the nurse was dismissed and charged.
Public healthcare institutions use secured storage, surveillance cameras, and security personnel to protect patient belongings and will take strict disciplinary or legal action against violators.

Summary written by AI

Overview Original source