Digital & technology — Topics

5 Oct 2022

Successful Implementation of Age Verification for Joining Social Media Platforms

The Ministry of Communications and Information is considering measures like a proposed Code of Practice for Online Safety but notes that reliable age verification for social media is technically challenging and involves data protection concerns.
Existing social media platforms typically set a minimum age of 13, but they rely on user declarations and are exploring AI-based methods to detect underage accounts, though global standards are not yet established.
The government encourages parental involvement and provides resources, such as the Media Literacy Council's guide, to help parents decide when their children should start using social media.
Melvin Yong suggested creating specific social media literacy programs for parents, and the Ministry confirmed that various initiatives, including those by NLB and MOE, already exist to support parents in guiding their children's online behavior.

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5 Oct 2022

Progress on Framework for Equitable Sharing of Losses Between Scam Victims and Financial Institutions

MAS is finalising a fair and effective framework for equitable loss-sharing between scam victims and financial institutions, which is taking longer than expected to ensure shared responsibility across the ecosystem and will be opened for public comments soon.
The Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams (IMCS) and Project FRONTIER have strengthened enforcement and coordination, leading to the freezing of over 7,800 accounts and recovery of more than S$80 million in the first half of 2022, alongside over 4,300 arrests related to scams.
Public education campaigns like "Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes" are expanding to raise awareness, while the government advises victims to immediately notify banks, call dedicated hotlines, and use the ScamShield app for reporting.
MAS is considering the speed of rolling out the loss-sharing framework and enhancing coordination for real-time scam interventions, but does not currently track response times for interrupting illegal transfers.
Interim recourse for victims remains limited, with authorities emphasizing vigilance and urging the public to report unusual transactions immediately while awaiting the final framework.

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4 Oct 2022

Facilitating Greater Access to Reading Resources for Children and Adolescents from Lower-income Families

Schools support lower-income students by linking their library systems to the National Library Board's catalogue and offering curated e-books, along with programs like kidsREAD that provide books and volunteer readings for younger children.
The Ministry of Education partners with organizations to provide reading materials, including digital news in Mother Tongue languages for secondary students and online access to The Straits Times for pre-university students.
Teachers guide students on selecting reading materials and accessing e-resources, and schools receive information on NLB apps to help students utilize free reading resources.

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4 Oct 2022

"Right to Repair" for Electronic Devices

Chua Kheng Wee Louis questioned whether the government would consider legislating a "right to repair" for electronic devices, asking why not if it would not.
Gan Kim Yong explained that right to repair is a nascent issue with varying aims and scopes across countries, and it may affect device pricing.
The government is monitoring global discussions to assess if such legislation is suitable for Singapore, but no decision has been made.

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4 Oct 2022

Cryptocurrency Investment Companies Setting Up Operations and Measures in Place to Prevent Money Laundering and Fraud

The Prime Minister's response highlighted that Singapore regulates cryptocurrency activities under the Payment Services Act, focusing on anti-money laundering and fraud prevention, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore administering a rigorous licensing process that has turned away many applicants.
MAS conducts surveillance to identify and shut down unlicensed cryptocurrency service providers, referring suspicious cases to the Police for investigation and listing them on an Investor Alert List to warn the public.
MAS and the Police collaborate on public advisories to alert consumers about fraudulent cryptocurrency investment websites and advise checking MAS’ website for licensed entities.

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4 Oct 2022

Prevalence and Regulation of Cryptocurrency Transactions

Yip Hon Weng inquired about the prevalence of privacy coins, privacy wallets, and mixers in Singapore and the government's regulatory stance.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam stated that anonymity-enhancing crypto tools are high-risk for money laundering and terrorism financing, prompting the FATF to issue guidance and MAS to impose stronger controls on regulated digital payment token service providers.
MAS requires these providers to assess risks, monitor transactions, and report higher-risk activities, though most licensed providers do not offer privacy coins and no data exists on peer-to-peer use of privacy wallets or mixers.

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4 Oct 2022

Unauthorised PayNow Transactions Reported and Funds Recovered

The Prime Minister reported 477 banking phishing scams involving PayNow in 2021 with a median loss of $3,400, and 133 cases in the first half of 2022 with a median loss of $1,200, noting that recovery rates for such transactions are not available.
Anti-scam measures by MAS and ABS include default transaction limits of $5,000 or lower and notification thresholds of $100 or lower, which apply to PayNow, with banks adapting defences like temporarily lowering limits to counter attacks.
Consumers are urged to stay vigilant by never sharing banking credentials, avoiding links in SMS or emails purportedly from banks, and using official banking apps to reduce risks.

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4 Oct 2022

Making Public Renovation Permits Issued by HDB for Authorised Renovation Works

Murali Pillai asked the Minister for National Development whether HDB could publicly share renovation permits it issues for authorised works via its portal or another platform to help residents plan around disturbances.
Desmond Lee explained that HDB requires permits for structural works like wall demolition and hacking, with contractors mandated to notify nearby households five days in advance and display notices during renovations.
He noted that since July 2021, residents can use the OneService app’s Home Renovation Notice feature to see HDB-permitted renovation dates and receive alerts for their block.
Non-structural renovation works like electrical or carpentry do not require HDB permits, but HDB encourages contractors to minimise noise and inform neighbours in advance.
The existing systems aim to provide transparency and allow residents to prepare for disruptions, though some works remain unregulated by HDB.

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4 Oct 2022

Coordination between Police and Banks when Scams are Reported

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked whether the Police immediately contact banks to track and freeze accounts used in PayNow scams to prevent further fraud.
K Shanmugam confirmed that Police trace fund flows and swiftly freeze suspected bank accounts through the Anti-Scam Centre to block further transfers, including via PayNow.
Since July 2022, six major banks in Singapore have co-located staff at the Anti-Scam Centre to facilitate rapid coordination with Police.

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4 Oct 2022

Levels of Proficiency of Seniors who Have Gone Through Seniors Go Digital Programme

Over 190,000 seniors have been engaged and trained under the Seniors Go Digital programme, with about nine in 10 continuing to use the digital skills in their daily lives.
Targeted anti-scam initiatives like the SG Cyber Safe Seniors Programme have engaged more than 45,000 seniors, alongside broader public education campaigns to raise awareness of online scams.
The government maintains a flexible, tiered approach to digital training, allowing seniors to learn at their own pace while keeping non-digital options available and encouraging community and private-sector partnerships.

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3 Oct 2022

Incidents of Unscheduled Disruption of Fibre Broadband Service Due to Construction Activity

From 2019, IMDA recorded several incidents of unscheduled fibre broadband disruptions caused by construction, with an average of 570 end-user connections affected per incident.
Contractors face penalties under the Telecommunications Act, including fines up to $1 million or imprisonment, with over $1.13 million in composition sums and court fines imposed since 2019.
IMDA has implemented preventive measures, conducts regular dialogues, and educates workers to minimise cable damage from earthworks.

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3 Oct 2022

Support for Students on Financial Assistance Scheme to Develop Good Reading Habits and Access Digital Devices

The Ministry of Education provides schools with print and digital reading resources, including library collections, Singapore Student Learning Space materials, and National Library Board access, to support reading habits.
Schools implement reading programmes, curriculum time for extensive reading, and partner with external organizations like the National Library Board to promote reading, especially for students from lower-income families.
All secondary students receive Personal Learning Devices under the National Digital Literacy Programme, and those on the Financial Assistance Scheme can obtain these devices with zero cash payment.
Students on the Financial Assistance Scheme can access affordable internet through IMDA’s Home Access or NEU PC Plus programmes to support digital reading.
The Ministry facilitates access to news and digital resources for older students to cultivate interest in current affairs.

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3 Oct 2022

Dark Web Crimes and Cryptocurrency-related Crimes in Past Two Years

Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of people apprehended for dark web crimes in the past two years, the three most common crime types, and whether cryptocurrency transactions are increasingly abetting illegal activities.
K Shanmugam responded that the authorities do not track crimes committed specifically via the dark web, so a specific number of apprehensions cannot be provided.
The number of crimes involving cryptocurrency transfers has risen significantly over the last three years, from 94 cases in 2019 to 498 in 2021, reflecting growing cryptocurrency usage.
Despite the increase, cryptocurrency-related crimes remain a small proportion of total crimes, with the majority being cheating offences.
The trend indicates more illegal activities are being facilitated by cryptocurrency transactions, aligning with the broader rise in cryptocurrency adoption.

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3 Oct 2022

Developing Responses to Expected Spike in Crimes from Increased Digital Activities and Transactions in Metaverse

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will apply existing laws like the Penal Code and Computer Misuse Act to crimes in the metaverse, with past amendments such as the Protection from Harassment Act demonstrating a commitment to updating legislation for online harms.
MHA is actively monitoring developments in the metaverse and plans to take further steps as needed to address novel crimes, while acknowledging challenges like overseas perpetrators and anonymity that complicate investigations.
The government recognizes that enforcement alone is insufficient and will collaborate with industry stakeholders, online service providers, and the public to enhance online safety through education and partnerships.

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3 Oct 2022

Response to Research Showing Correlation between Increased Social Media Use and Suicidal Behaviour

Dr Shahira Abdullah proposed that the Ministry consider a suicide prevention strategy requiring social media companies to implement upstream measures like education and resources, aligning with the proposed Code of Practice for Online Safety.
Minister Josephine Teo responded that the Code of Practice will mandate designated social media services to protect users from harmful content, including suicide-related material, and to provide accessible safety information and local resources.
The Minister added that social media services must offer relevant suicide prevention information, such as local hotlines, when users search for high-risk terms, emphasizing a whole-of-society approach involving multiple agencies and community partnerships.

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3 Oct 2022

Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill

The Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill was introduced to amend the Broadcasting Act 1994 and the Electronic Transactions Act 2010 to regulate providers of online communication services.
The bill was presented by the Minister for Communications and Information, Mrs Josephine Teo, and read for the first time in Parliament.
It was scheduled for a second reading at the first available sitting in November 2022 and to be printed for parliamentary review.

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13 Sep 2022

Removal of Hyperlinks in SMS and Aggregator Messages to Reduce Risk of Phishing

The Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams is taking a sector-based approach to removing hyperlinks in SMS, balancing phishing risks with the utility of hyperlinks, and has secured banks' agreement to remove them while noting their continued necessity for certain government services.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority has implemented the Singapore SMS Sender ID Registry to block spoofed messages, with plans to make registration mandatory by end-2022 and to introduce anti-scam SMS filtering solutions to block malicious hyperlinks and scam messages.
The government emphasizes that while these measures reduce risks, they do not eliminate them, and users must continue to exercise vigilance as scammers may shift to other communication channels.

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13 Sep 2022

Impact of Recent Flaw in iOS Devices on Personal Data of Singaporeans

The Ministry is aware of the recent iOS security flaws and, through SingCERT and the PDPC, has not received any reports of Singaporeans’ personal data being compromised due to these vulnerabilities.
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) has issued advisories for users to install emergency software updates, and the government continues to monitor the situation for any breaches.
To increase awareness, especially among seniors, the SG Digital Office’s Seniors Go Digital programme and the SG Cyber Safe Seniors Programme have been teaching cyber hygiene, including the importance of timely software updates, to over 45,000 seniors.

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12 Sep 2022

Enhancing Transaction Safety on Social Media and E-commerce Platforms

The Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams introduced the Transaction Safety Ratings (TSR) and revised Technical Reference 76 (TR 76) to guide e-commerce platforms on user authentication, transaction security, and anti-scam measures, with TSR rating platforms like Amazon and Lazada highly for their safety features.
The TSR and TR 76 aim to raise consumer and industry awareness through advisories and guidelines, though TR 76 measures are not mandatory and will be monitored for potential regulation.
Over 300,500 users have downloaded ScamShield since November 2020, with millions of scam SMSes reported and thousands of numbers blocked, and an Android version is forthcoming to expand protection.

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12 Sep 2022

Inclusion of Name of Stillborn Child in New Digital Birth Certificates

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked whether the new digital birth certificates for stillborn children will allow parents to designate a name for the child.
K Shanmugam explained that current stillbirth registration does not include naming, as names are not needed for policy administration and the process is fully automated to reduce administrative burden on grieving parents.
He noted that changing the process to include naming would require further system updates, but the MHA will study its feasibility and alternatives, such as a commemorative certificate, during the next policy review.
So far, only one request for naming a stillborn child has been received by the ICA.

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