Digital & technology — Topics

28 Feb 2023

Committee of Supply – Head Q (Ministry of Communications and Information)

Parliament debated digital inclusion, online safety, and infrastructure, with members raising concerns about seniors, scams, and youth protection, while the government outlined measures like the new DigitalAccess@Home scheme and a code of practice for app stores.
The Digital Connectivity Blueprint and Digital Enterprise Blueprint were announced to guide long-term digital infrastructure and support SMEs, including cybersecurity health plans and skills training.
Government advertising was questioned for accountability and effectiveness, with the ministry defending its public interest role and committing to better measurement and transparency.

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28 Feb 2023

Implication if Civil Servants Use ChatGPT to Write Reports and Speeches

The Government is exploring the use of large language models like ChatGPT through a tool called Pair to assist civil servants with writing tasks such as summarizing materials and improving clarity, but highly confidential work will remain exclusively human-written.
Pair is intended as an assistive tool to boost productivity, with civil servants remaining responsible for content accuracy and policy decisions, and the government has secured data security agreements to keep government information confidential.
The Senior Minister of State noted that while productivity gains are not yet quantifiable and job roles may be redeveloped, redeployment of personnel is not expected based on past experiences with similar technologies.

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28 Feb 2023

Average Timespan of Manually-handled Court Case Compared to One Managed Under Intergrated Case Management System

The Integrated Case Management System (ICMS) has been used since 2015 to manage all criminal cases in the State Courts, with an average of 184,000 cases filed annually from 2018 to 2022, but no specific data was tracked on the average timespan of manually-handled cases versus ICMS-managed cases during a system failure in February 2023.
During the ICMS disruption on 7–8 February 2023, business continuity plans were activated, leading to only 16 out of 2,037 scheduled criminal cases (less than 1%) being adjourned, with minimal overall disruption.
ICMS undergoes scheduled weekly (4 hours) and monthly (10 hours) maintenance during non-operational hours, totaling about 3.7% of annual hours, and while some lawyers have reported issues with the system's speed and glitches, feedback is being reviewed for potential improvements and integration with other systems like the Criminal Case Management System.

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27 Feb 2023

Committee of Supply – Head R (Ministry of Law)

Members raised concerns about the effectiveness of community dispute resolution, suggesting mandatory mediation and improvements to the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals to make them more user-friendly, while the Ministry outlined plans to mandate mediation for certain cases and enhance the process.
Discussions focused on access to justice, including updates on legal aid services, the new Public Defenders’ Office, and digital tools like Divorce AIDE, with the Ministry highlighting initiatives to support vulnerable groups and self-represented litigants.
The debate covered Singapore's land optimization strategies, including the Digital Conveyancing Portal and rejuvenation of state properties, with the Ministry emphasizing technology-driven efficiency and community-focused rejuvenation projects.

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24 Feb 2023

Uploading of TraceTogether Device Data onto Ministry's Server

Leong Mun Wai questioned the Ministry of Health about the most recent upload of TraceTogether Bluetooth data from devices to the Ministry's server.
Ong Ye Kung responded that the Ministry stopped all such uploads on 26 April 2022.
The exchange highlights the timeline for when TraceTogether device data was no longer being actively transferred to the Ministry's servers.

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24 Feb 2023

Protocol of Police in Handling Reports of Fraudulent Debit Card Transactions and Bank Account Withdrawals

Leong Mun Wai asked about the standard operating procedures for the Singapore Police Force in handling reports of fraudulent debit card transactions and bank account withdrawals.
K Shanmugam explained that police typically start investigations by recording statements and gathering evidence, and they may ask banks to deactivate cards or freeze accounts if not already done, with actions tailored to each case's specifics.
The government, through the Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams, has collaborated with financial regulators and banks to implement measures like enhanced customer confirmations, notifications for account changes, and emergency kill switches to protect against fraud.

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24 Feb 2023

Committee of Supply – Head U (Prime Minister's Office)

The debate focused on Singapore's climate change commitments, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with discussions on balancing economic growth, supporting SMEs, and ensuring a just transition for workers affected by the green shift.
Parliament addressed population and fertility challenges, including low birth rates, ageing demographics, and immigration policies, with calls for better family support measures like enhanced paternity leave and flexible work arrangements.
Concerns were raised about corporate governance and anti-corruption efforts, particularly regarding the Keppel case, with discussions on improving transparency, strengthening laws, and ensuring accountability in public and private sectors.
The Smart Nation agenda was reviewed, emphasizing digital inclusion for seniors, cybersecurity, and leveraging technology for public services, while maintaining non-digital options to avoid leaving anyone behind.
MPs debated lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, with the government maintaining that existing engagement mechanisms for youth are sufficient and that voting age should not be changed without clear benefits to governance.

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23 Feb 2023

Due Diligence Checks on New Clients Opening Accounts to Prevent Mule Accounts for Scams

MAS mandates that banks in Singapore implement robust controls to identify customers, evaluate risks, and monitor accounts for suspicious activity, including preventing mule accounts for scams.
MAS and the Singapore Police Force have introduced an advisory to warn applicants that accounts must be for personal use only and that misuse may facilitate criminal activities.
MAS encourages banks to use data analytics and share emerging mule typologies across the industry, leading to improved detection and collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

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22 Feb 2023

Emergency Response Cases Reported or Attended through myResponder App and Plans to Increase App Subscription

Between 2018 and 2022, Community First Responders attended 7,670 emergency cases via the myResponder app, with 4,525 being cardiac arrest cases and 3,145 minor fire incidents.
To increase app subscriptions and grow the pool of Community First Responders, SCDF is leveraging community events, resilience programmes, and training sessions to promote the app and emergency preparedness.
SCDF is expanding the availability of AEDs and fire extinguishers in the community, with targets to place AEDs within 250 metres in urban areas by end 2025 and install fire extinguishers at HDB lift lobbies.
The AED-on-Wheels Programme is being expanded, with new partners like SingPost joining to add more vehicles equipped with AEDs to the roving response network.
Calls made through the app’s 995 widget are received as standard emergency calls, with no distinction from the regular 995 hotline.

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22 Feb 2023

Review of Resources to be Deployed to Government Agencies to Handle Caseload with Increasing Number of Scams

The Ministry of Home Affairs reorganized resources by establishing the Anti-Scam Command in March 2022, partnering with financial sector agencies and leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and collaboration in handling scam cases.
International cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies, including operations with INTERPOL and the Asset-Recovery Interagency Network–Asia Pacific, has been key to dismantling scam syndicates and recovering illicit assets.
Upstream preventive measures, such as blocking unregistered SMS and spoofed calls, alongside public education campaigns like the “I can ACT against scams” initiative, are emphasized to protect the public.
Banks are implementing security features like transaction limits, cooling periods for new services, and removing clickable links to balance efficiency and customer protection, especially for seniors.
The approach combines enforcement, technology, international collaboration, and public awareness to address the growing scam caseload, with ongoing discussions to refine measures like differentiating new PayNow numbers for pre-screening.

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22 Feb 2023

Ensuring Government Web Services and Data Hosted on Commercial Data Centres are Assured of Availability and Data Security

Ms Poh Li San raised concerns about the availability and security of government web services hosted on commercial data centres, citing a Microsoft Azure outage, and asked about procurement policies favouring local versus foreign companies.
The Senior Minister of State replied that cloud services are vetted for resilience and security regardless of provider ownership, with regular monitoring to ensure 99.9% availability, and noted the limited impact of the recent outage.
In response to supplementary questions, it was explained that the government uses multiple cloud providers and hybrid solutions to diversify risk and maintains contractual standards and close collaboration with providers for recourse.
The government plans for 70% of services to be on cloud providers by 2023, with some critical services directly controlled by the government for security purposes.

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14 Feb 2023

Cooperative and Unified Smart Traffic System Project's Ability to Detect Bicycles

Leon Perera asked whether the Cooperative and Unified Smart Traffic System project will detect bicycles to enhance cyclist road safety.
The minister explained that the CRUISE project uses AI and multi-sensor data to dynamically adjust traffic lights for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists using pedestrian crossings.
Detecting cyclists on roads would require algorithm enhancements and more trials, increasing system complexity and cost.
The government has implemented initiatives like new regulations and safety handbooks to improve road safety for cyclists and motorists.
Authorities will continue studying ways to enhance road safety for all road users.

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14 Feb 2023

Penalties for Money Mules who Sold Control of Bank Accounts or Singpass Details for Scams and Money Laundering Activities

Yip Hon Weng asked about common penalties for money mules who sold bank accounts or Singpass details for scams and money laundering, whether such offences were voluntary or coerced, and if penalties could be increased as a deterrent.
K Shanmugam explained that money mules are prosecuted under various acts like CDSA, Penal Code, CMA, and PSA, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, and that most offences are voluntary due to monetary incentives.
He noted that current laws need enhancement to better prove intent, so the Ministry of Home Affairs is considering amendments to strengthen accountability for money mules and curb Singpass abuse.

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14 Feb 2023

Legislative Levers to Strengthen Internal Security Department's Capacity Given Increase in Cases of Youths being Self-radicalised

Murali Pillai questioned if additional legislative measures are needed to help the Internal Security Department effectively counter self-radicalised youths, especially given the difficulty in identifying such threats.
The Minister of State affirmed a zero-tolerance approach, citing the effectiveness of the Internal Security Act and existing laws like the Broadcasting Act and Online Safety Act to block extremist content online.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is developing a new framework to tackle online criminal activity, including terrorism, which will complement current laws and introduce further legislative levers.
Pillai commended the ISD's timely interventions that prevented potential harm and asked for specifics on the legislative levers being contemplated to address self-radicalisation.
The Minister of State confirmed that more details on the proposed framework and new legislative levers would be released shortly.

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7 Feb 2023

Plans to Leverage of Artificial Intelligence Technology to Support Learning for Students

Miss Rachel Ong inquired about leveraging AI like ChatGPT to support students lacking tutoring access or to complement the education system.
Chan Chun Sing highlighted existing support structures such as learning programs and the Singapore Student Learning Space, noting AI tools can aid learning but must be used critically and not replace teacher guidance.
The Ministry of Education will guide teachers on appropriate technology use and equip students with digital literacy to confidently and effectively harness tools like AI.

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7 Feb 2023

Manage Use of Artificial Intelligence Bots in Schools

Shawn Huang Wei Zhong asked how the Ministry of Education will manage the use of AI bots like ChatGPT in schools amid the proliferation of AI toolkits.
Chan Chun Sing stated that generative AI tools present both opportunities and challenges, and that MOE provides guidance to teachers on using such technologies to enhance learning while teaching students digital literacy and cyber wellness skills.
Schools have adopted practices to prevent misuse of AI, including teaching students about integrity and plagiarism, and teachers use daily interactions and multiple assessment modes to detect potential AI-generated responses.
MOE will continue to monitor the impact of AI tools on learning and equip students with the skills and values to use technology confidently and responsibly, with approaches evolving as new AI tools emerge.

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7 Feb 2023

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence Technology to Increase Accessibility of Government Services

Miss Rachel Ong inquired about leveraging AI, similar to ChatGPT, to improve government service accessibility for seniors and those less tech-savvy or facing language barriers.
The Prime Minister emphasized the commitment to inclusive digital access through initiatives like Seniors Go Digital, accessible websites, and non-digital alternatives, while exploring AI such as the OneService Chatbot.
The government is studying ChatGPT-like technologies carefully, balancing benefits with considerations of cost, reliability, and limitations to ensure responsible innovation.

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7 Feb 2023

Update on Testing and Deployment of Autonomous Vehicles in Public Transport Sector

As of 27 January 2023, 43 autonomous vehicles (AVs) have passed Milestone 1 tests and one has passed Milestone 2 tests in Singapore, with trials since 2014 aiding capability development but highlighting needs for further R&D on local conditions.
The government stated that large-scale AV deployment in Singapore depends on technology maturity, safety, commercial viability, and public acceptance, with a gradual impact rather than a deliberate slowdown or acceleration.
The Ministry of Transport is collaborating with unions and workers, such as the National Transport Workers’ Union, to develop skills roadmaps and update training curricula to prepare bus, taxi, and private hire vehicle drivers for the transition to driverless technology.

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7 Feb 2023

Ready Availability of Mobile Devices and Impact on Youth Education on Harms of Drugs

The Central Narcotics Bureau uses social media, youth advocates, and school collaborations to deliver anti-drug education through videos, campaigns, and curriculum integration.
Authorities engage tech companies to remove drug-related content and enforce laws against online dissemination of harmful drug information, with penalties including imprisonment and fines.
The most commonly abused drugs among youths under 16 are methamphetamine, cannabis, and new psychoactive substances, with efforts continuing to adapt to emerging trends.

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6 Feb 2023

Protecting Consumers from Unilateral Termination of Mobile Services by a Virtual Telco

The debate was initiated by Dr Tan Wu Meng questioning the safeguards for consumers against virtual telcos unilaterally terminating mobile services.
Mrs Josephine Teo responded that all telcos, including virtual ones, must comply with the Telecommunications Act and specific licence conditions, requiring IMDA approval and three months' notice before discontinuing services.
Consumers with disputes can approach IMDA or use the Alternative Dispute Resolution process, and IMDA will investigate breaches, potentially issuing warnings or financial penalties to non-compliant telcos.

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