Digital & technology

• Dr Tan Wu Meng questioned MAS on the risks of AI-induced herding and potential conflicts of interest in trading platforms, where AI systems might prioritize platform interests over customer interests without disclosure.
• Lawrence Wong responded that MAS requires financial institutions to have technology-neutral controls to mitigate conflicts of interest and has established FEAT Principles since 2018 to guide responsible AI use, including fairness and transparency disclosures.
• MAS currently assesses the herding risk as low due to the nascent stage of AI adoption in Singapore but continues to monitor AI risks and works with the industry to align systems with FEAT Principles.

• The Bill amends the Oaths and Declarations Act, Notaries Public Act, and other related Acts to allow statutory declarations, oaths, affirmations, and notarisations to be conducted via electronic means, while ensuring integrity and security against fraud.
• The Bill is linked to the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, with explanations and debates on its provisions having been covered earlier during the discussion of the related constitutional amendments.
• The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law moved the Second Reading of the Bill, and it was agreed to without recorded dissent or a division.
• The House then resolved into a Committee of the whole House to consider the Bill, which was reported without amendment, read a Third time, and passed.

• The bill amends the Constitution to allow oaths, affirmations, and statutory declarations to be administered and witnessed remotely via live video or television link, replacing the traditional requirement for physical presence.
• It introduces safeguards such as identity verification, quality standards for electronic communication, and provisions for electronic signatures, while allowing flexibility for in-person processes to continue if preferred.
• The framework aims to modernize legal procedures, support digitalization, and ensure integrity by addressing fraud risks, with details to be specified in subsidiary legislation and guidelines from the Singapore Academy of Law.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs is combating concert ticket scams through a multi-faceted approach, including working with platforms to remove scam content, public advisories, the E-commerce Transaction Safety Ratings, and the Online Criminal Harms Act, while urging the public to use the "Add, Check, Tell" scam prevention steps.
• Desmond Choo suggested that concert operators could implement measures like non-transferable tickets or enhanced verification to protect Singapore's reputation as an entertainment hub, and requested data on total losses from such scams over the past five years.
• The Minister of State responded that efforts to improve ticket security are ongoing in collaboration with organizers and platforms, and provided estimated scam losses from 2018 to 2023, with a significant increase in recent years, including $518,000 lost up to July 2023.

• The Ministry of Communications and Information collaborates with the Ministry of Home Affairs and other agencies to assess and enforce measures against illegal online activities such as illegal carpooling and sale of food delivery rider accounts.
• The Online Criminal Harms Bill is being introduced to empower law enforcement to issue directions to online services suspected of aiding criminal offences, strengthening legislative clarity on platform obligations.
• The Personal Data Protection Act governs data handling by all organizations, including food delivery companies, and enforcement actions can be taken for breaches, with expectations for companies to minimize data exposure and prohibit account sales.

• The Ministry of Health uses a risk-based approach, regulating clinical genetic testing but not direct-to-consumer (DTC) tests for general wellness, ancestry, or nutrigenomic purposes, while issuing guidance on good practices and risks.
• Consumers are advised to assess test suitability and quality, read terms carefully, and consult providers or doctors, as the government emphasizes a caveat emptor approach for non-clinical tests.
• MOH will monitor DTC developments and review regulations, including potential enhancements through the Health Information Bill, to ensure public safety, privacy, and welfare.

• The Minister affirmed that Singapore's AI governance approach is risk-based and practical, relying on guidelines like the Model AI Governance Framework and tools like AI Verify rather than a single centralized regulator.
• Singapore is actively engaging internationally through partnerships with bodies like GPAI, ASEAN, and countries such as the US and UK to align on responsible AI development and governance standards.
• The Minister compared AI regulation to the evolution of automotive safety measures, emphasizing that effective regulatory tools will emerge over time as risks become clearer and international standards develop.
• Both speakers acknowledged AI's rapid evolution and broad societal impact, with a focus on coordinating across agencies and sectors to manage risks without stifling innovation.
• The government plans to continue monitoring AI developments and adjust its approach as knowledge evolves, ensuring policies remain adaptable and internationally interoperable.

• The Prime Minister’s office explained that specific data on the total value of unauthorised credit card charges over the last five years, including those from BIN attacks, is not tracked, although banks monitor credit card dispute cases which include fraud and scams.
• Low-value transactions are often used in BIN attacks to test card details, and merchants without one-time password authentication bear liability, while cardholders are not liable if they report promptly.
• The Monetary Authority of Singapore expects card issuers and schemes to implement strong security measures such as real-time fraud monitoring, transaction alerts, OTP authentication, and chargeback mechanisms to protect consumers.

• The Ministry of Manpower will require employers to verify diploma-level and above qualifications for Employment Pass applications from September 2023, using listed screening companies or government/institution portals.
• Twelve background screening companies were selected through a panel review based on criteria including scale, cost, speed, accuracy, customer support, and data protection, and will undergo regular audits.
• For conflicting verification results, MOM will investigate discrepancies by reviewing the companies’ processes and communications with institutions to ensure accuracy.
• MOM has implemented measures to aid employers, such as listing the companies on its website, requiring them to disclose service details, enforcing declared processing times, and working with associations for employer education.
• Companies that fail to meet MOM’s standards will be removed from the list to maintain quality and reliability in the verification process.

• The May 2023 DBS disruption, caused by human error during system maintenance, led to intermittent service outages for six and a half hours, following an earlier March disruption due to software bugs.
• The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) deemed these incidents unacceptable and required DBS to extend its board-led review with independent third-party oversight.
• MAS may impose additional capital requirements on DBS and other regulatory actions based on ongoing reviews, while mandating that all retail banks ensure resilience and quick recovery for critical digital banking systems.

• Gerald Giam asked about the number of fraudulent bank transactions in the past year due to SMS OTP diversions, whether MAS will set a timeline to phase out SMS OTPs for high-risk transactions, and if customers can opt out of SMS OTPs while using other MFA methods.
• Tan Wu Meng asked whether MAS will review previously closed cases of customer disputes where unauthorized transactions occurred despite OTPs not being divulged or received, in light of recent malware-related bank fraud advisories.
• Tharman Shanmugaratnam responded that while SMS OTP diversions were reported before 2021, such risks have been largely addressed, and banks are already phasing out sole reliance on SMS OTPs for high-risk transactions, with MAS setting a deadline for completion.
• MAS does not support allowing customers to opt out of SMS OTPs, as it remains a useful authentication layer for low-risk activities and helps maintain security for customers without advanced devices.
• The response emphasized that scams involving malware infections are growing, and customers should follow security advisories, contact banks immediately if fraud is suspected, and that MAS expects banks to treat customers fairly when reviewing dispute cases.

The Online Criminal Harms Bill aims to combat online crimes like scams by allowing authorities to issue Directions to service providers, with a lower threshold for proactive action against scams. The bill introduces codes of practice for designated online services to implement preventive measures, such as seller verification, and includes appeal mechanisms and extraterritorial enforcement powers. While generally supported, MPs raised concerns about potential impacts on free speech, privacy, and the need for clear safeguards, with the Minister affirming the bill's focus on criminal content and its complementarity with existing laws.

• The Minister for Manpower clarified that the Shared Responsibility Framework involves financial institutions, telcos, and individuals in addressing malware-related scams.
• The government is engaging closely with industry stakeholders and plans to release a public consultation paper in the third quarter of the year.
• Details on the framework will be delved into deeper during the public consultation phase.

• Tan Wu Meng sought an update on measures to enhance the redundancy of Singapore's undersea cable networks and ensure bandwidth for essential services like the financial sector.
• Josephine Teo referred to a prior parliamentary reply from November 2022 detailing safeguards against sabotage and disruptions to submarine cables.
• The Ministry plans to allocate more space and landing resources to support growing bandwidth needs from submarine cable operators.

• Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked whether the Early Childhood Education Agency mandates CCTV installation in preschools, how many preschools lack CCTVs, and what regulations govern footage review.
• Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that preschools are not required to install CCTVs but many do so voluntarily for security, and the agency does not track the number without CCTVs.
• He added that preschools must comply with the Personal Data Protection Act regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data in CCTV footage.

• Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked for an update on the Automated Passenger In-Car Clearance System (APICS) and its possible extension to commercial goods vehicles.
• Minister K Shanmugam explained that APICS, developed by ICA and HTX, uses biometric scanners, sensors, and cameras for seamless clearance.
• A 2022 trial at Old Woodlands Checkpoint saw 94% of travellers self-clearing without officer assistance.
• APICS will be rolled out at Tuas Checkpoint from 2026 and the redeveloped Woodlands Checkpoint from 2028.
• A similar system for commercial goods vehicles will also be introduced progressively in the same timeframe.

• Sylvia Lim raised concerns about the performance and impact of the redesigned automated and unmanned Neighbourhood Police Posts, including evidence of workload displacement and changes in public usage compared to the pre-redesign period.
• Minister K Shanmugam responded that the deployment of self-help kiosks and automated Neighbourhood Police Posts since 2013 has improved operational efficiency and enabled 24/7 access to police services, with steadily increasing public adoption.
• The Minister stated that it is not possible to isolate workload changes at other touchpoints like 999 calls or Neighbourhood Police Centres solely to the redesign of the Neighbourhood Police Posts.

• Desmond Choo raised concerns about the recent disruptions to DBS' digital banking services and asked about MAS investigations, the adequacy of additional capital requirements, and sharing of preliminary findings from the DBS Special Board Committee.
• Tharman Shanmugaratnam, responding for the Prime Minister, indicated that the question would be addressed in a reply to a separate parliamentary question scheduled for the following day.
• The referenced written answer was to be found in the Official Report of 5 July 2023, focusing on the probe into DBS service disruptions and preventive measures.

• The Bill introduces the CORENET X digital platform to streamline regulatory submissions for building works, with features like Building Information Modelling (BIM) requirements and consolidated agency responses to reduce approval times by 20–25%.
• Amendments to the Planning Act, Building Control Act, and environmental laws enable electronic approvals, lodgment for low-risk projects, and clearer powers for agencies, while maintaining safeguards such as conditional preliminary permissions.
• Stakeholders support the Bill but raised concerns about workplace safety for migrant workers, suggesting stricter enforcement and training, and sought clarification on SME readiness for BIM adoption and phased implementation of CORENET X.

• Over 88,000 SMEs have benefited from the SMEs Go Digital programme since 2017, with digital adoption rates among firms rising from 78% to 93% between 2018 and 2022.
• The programme has improved productivity and value-add, with 85% of participating SMEs reporting time savings and 75% noting alleviated manpower challenges, while specific grants like the Productivity Solutions Grant led to increases in value-add per worker and revenue.
• The government is developing a Digital Enterprise Blueprint and refreshing Industry Digital Plans to provide more tailored solutions, deepen digitalisation, and address emerging challenges like cybersecurity and the use of new technologies such as generative AI.