Digital & technology — Topics

2 Feb 2021

Action against Advertisements of Illegal Remote Gambling or Loan Services on Social Media, SMS and Messaging Apps

Police take enforcement actions such as forwarding offending numbers to telecoms for termination or to platforms for content removal, and pursue perpetrators when identifiable.
Joint operations with IMDA target retailers selling fraudulently registered prepaid SIM cards, with recent raids leading to arrests and seizures.
The public is encouraged to block and report spam messages, using tools like the free ScamShield app, while technical solutions with telecom providers are being explored.

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2 Feb 2021

COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, introduced the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill, acknowledging an error in not initially stating that TraceTogether data could be accessed under the Criminal Procedure Code for serious offences, and moving to legally restrict its use primarily to contact tracing, with exceptions for investigations into seven specified serious crimes.
Parliament debated the balance between public health needs for effective contact tracing and public concerns over privacy and trust, with the government emphasizing that the amendments are a temporary, necessary compromise to maintain both pandemic control and public safety.
The bill specifies that personal contact tracing data from systems like TraceTogether and SafeEntry can only be used for contact tracing, except for serious offences listed in the Seventh Schedule, which include crimes like murder, terrorism, and kidnapping, with safeguards such as requiring higher-ranked officers to approve data access.

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2 Feb 2021

Number and Types of Stay-Home-Notice and Quarantine Order Breaches

As of 25 January 2021, 308,442 Stay-Home Notices and 268,385 Quarantine Orders were issued, with 367 SHN and 130 QO breaches recorded, leading to prosecutions, fines, imprisonment, and administrative actions like pass revocation or PR status loss.
Since August 2020, all individuals on SHN or QO must wear electronic monitoring devices using GPS and 4G/Bluetooth, with alerts triggered for breaches, and the HOMER App introduced in April 2020 uses facial recognition and location tracking for additional monitoring.
The HOMER App is used alongside electronic devices for monitoring health and location, and its use alongside electronic devices is mandatory for all individuals on SHN or QO, including Long-Term Visit Pass holders and visitors to Singapore.

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2 Feb 2021

Impact of SolarWinds Breach on Singapore and Cybersecurity of Critical Systems

The Minister confirmed that the SolarWinds breach, a sophisticated attack on widely used software, affected thousands globally but has not adversely impacted Singapore's Critical Information Infrastructure or government systems to date.
In response, the Cyber Security Agency raised the national threat alert level and issued advisories, while advocating for a long-term shift to a "zero-trust" cybersecurity posture that emphasizes constant verification, monitoring, and restricting network access.
The government is engaging with critical infrastructure sectors and organizations to strengthen defenses, share threat intelligence, and provide support, especially for less-resourced companies, though it acknowledges complete prevention is impossible.

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1 Feb 2021

Targets and Progress of SingapoRediscovers Scheme and Support for Smaller and Less Digitally Literate Merchants

The SingapoRediscovers Scheme currently includes 402 businesses, comprising 37% tours, 11% attractions, and 52% hotels, with no specific revenue size targets as the scheme is open to all eligible licensed tourism businesses.
The scheme supports smaller and less digitally literate merchants by featuring their products on a digital platform with lower commission rates through five authorized booking partners, which also provide assistance in developing digital content and marketing.
Authorized booking partners help businesses without their own booking systems to participate and offer comprehensive marketing plans to reach a wider audience, reducing the need for digital expertise.

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1 Feb 2021

Environmental Costs of Digital Currencies and Estimated Costs of Bitcoin and Related Digital Currency Mining in Singapore

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment to examine the environmental costs of energy-intensive digital currency mining, estimate related costs in Singapore, assess their magnitude, and consider restricting such mining.
Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that cryptocurrency mining is not regulated in Singapore and is uncommon due to high land, labour, and electricity costs, as well as the hot climate, which make it economically unfavorable.
She added that the Singapore government will continue monitoring cryptocurrency developments and associated risks, indicating no immediate plans to regulate or restrict mining.

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1 Feb 2021

Restricting Public Access to Identity of Property Owners in Singapore

Gan Thiam Poh questioned whether the Personal Data Protection Act should prompt restrictions on public access to property owners' identities, and if disclosures should require owner consent or a court order.
K Shanmugam affirmed the Land Titles Register's role in preventing fraud by allowing easy verification of property ownership through address or lot number searches.
He clarified that searches do not use an individual's name or ID, thus preventing bulk retrieval of a person's property holdings.
The government maintains that public access to property records balances transparency with privacy, with no immediate plans for restrictive changes.

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1 Feb 2021

Option for Singaporeans to Register Preferred Language of Communication for Government Correspondence

Chong Kee Hiong proposed allowing Singaporeans to register their preferred language for government correspondence to reduce paper waste and better serve those who only understand Mother Tongues.
The government agreed with the principle of offering language choices, highlighting digital initiatives like the Gov.sg WhatsApp channel and LifeSG app that allow users to select from official languages.
The public service also conducts face-to-face outreach in preferred languages, such as through the Silver Generation Office, and plans to further study the suggestion for improvements.

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1 Feb 2021

Trend of Cyber Scams and Hacks in Last Five Years

The Ministry shared that from 2015 to 2020, Police received about 1,900 reports of cyber scams targeting non-natural persons like companies and over 8,000 reports of unauthorized attempts to access computer material, though it does not track if all attempts were company-specific.
To combat cybercrime, the government established the APPACT platform for public-private collaboration and launched the Safer Cyberspace Masterplan, which focuses on securing digital infrastructure, safeguarding online activities, and empowering the population with cybersecurity awareness and tools.
The government provides support through toolkits for cybersecurity education and grants like the Productivity Solutions Grants and SMEs Go Digital Programme to help enterprises adopt Security-as-a-Service solutions, while urging businesses to strengthen their own cybersecurity measures and verify payment requests to avoid scams.

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1 Feb 2021

Implications of Consumer Data Monopoly by Firms

The Prime Minister’s office acknowledged that while firms use consumer data to improve services, there is a risk of data monopoly restricting competition, with regulators like the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore and Infocomm Media Development Authority having rules to prevent such abuse.
Personal data protection is ensured through the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which requires consent and transparency from financial institutions, alongside cyber hygiene and technology risk management standards, though individuals also bear responsibility for safeguarding their data.
Singapore has explored digital currency through Project Ubin for wholesale payments, but a retail Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is not yet pursued due to concerns over illicit use, impact on bank funding, and a careful assessment of privacy versus other risks.

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1 Feb 2021

Legal Requirement for Social Media Platforms to Inform Users When Accounts Have Been Compromised

Miss Cheryl Chan proposed requiring social media platforms to legally notify users of compromised accounts, provide a reporting channel, and maintain offices to handle such reports.
The Minister responded that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, users can report hacking to police, and PDPA mandates notification for significant breaches and requires social media companies to appoint Data Protection Officers.
Social media platforms already offer incident reporting channels and mechanisms for unusual login alerts, and users are urged to practice good cyber hygiene.
The government is committed to collaborating with stakeholders and will continue reviewing laws and measures to protect citizens in the digital space.

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1 Feb 2021

Raising Awareness of Potential Risks on Emerging Social Media Platforms

The Government is committed to promoting digital literacy and cyber wellness across ministries, partnering with the people and private sectors to address risks on emerging platforms like TikTok and OnlyFans.
Agencies have launched initiatives such as the Digital Media and Information Literacy Framework and updated the Character and Citizenship Education curriculum to equip youths, parents, and educators with skills to recognize and manage online risks.
The Media Council collaborates with government and tech companies on campaigns and workshops to educate youths on online safety and promote responsible digital parenting.
Efforts are coordinated across ministries to support youth mental wellbeing and foster a safer internet culture through collective action.
The government will continue working with partners to strengthen community resilience against evolving threats on new social media platforms.

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1 Feb 2021

Helping Companies Transit into TraceTogether-only SafeEntry Phase

The government plans to implement TraceTogether-only SafeEntry at high-traffic or high-risk venues, with more than half of the 40,000 affected establishments already ready to accept TraceTogether token check-ins.
Businesses will be assisted through guides and ambassador support, and some SafeEntry check-ins may be removed to reduce inconvenience, such as allowing a single mall check-in to cover internal stores.
The government is working on solutions to simplify the transition and will announce details later, with physical scanner upgrades or app downloads suggested for non-compliant businesses.
No specific cost defrayal details for smaller establishments were provided, but support focuses on capability building and smoother implementation.

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1 Feb 2021

Impact of Change in WhatsApp's Privacy Policy on Government Communications

The Government has existing rules that prohibit the use of commercial messaging platforms like WhatsApp for communicating classified information, and these rules remain unchanged by WhatsApp’s privacy policy update.
Public officers can continue using WhatsApp for non-classified information, and subscriber numbers for the Gov.sg WhatsApp channel are increasing, with the Government using multiple platforms for public communication.
Private sector organisations contracted by the Government are bound by contractual terms and must comply with the PDPA and Official Secrets Act regarding data sharing, and the Personal Data Protection Commission is engaging WhatsApp on privacy concerns.

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1 Feb 2021

Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill

The Bill amends the Electronic Transactions Act to adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records, enabling legally recognized electronic versions of trade documents like bills of lading to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance security in international trade.
It removes transferable documents from the Act's exclusion list, paving the way for digitalization of transactions such as Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), with plans to progressively include other items once robust legislative and administrative safeguards are in place.
Members of Parliament supported the Bill but raised concerns about SME digitalization support, cybersecurity measures, and ensuring accessibility for vulnerable groups, with the Minister affirming ongoing efforts like TradeTrust and digital inclusion initiatives.

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5 Jan 2021

Clarification by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister-in-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan clarified that under the Criminal Procedure Code, police can order production of TraceTogether data for criminal investigations, noting user privacy is protected in normal use but the data is not exempt from legal provisions.
He issued a factual correction to his initial parliamentary statement, stating that TraceTogether data is not exempt from section 20 of the CPC rather than section 22.
The debate focused on legal compliance and data privacy, emphasizing that TraceTogether data is accessible for criminal probes while maintaining protections for general use.

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5 Jan 2021

PayNow Collaboration with Thailand's Promptpay

The collaboration between PayNow and Thailand's PromptPay will allow registered users in Singapore and Thailand to send money directly to each other using just a mobile phone number, similar to domestic PayNow transfers.
QR code payments are not part of the current PayNow-PromptPay collaboration, so there is no immediate confusion for consumers regarding QR codes for cross-border payments.
If QR payments are added in the future, MAS will clearly communicate how they differ from existing QR schemes like PayNow QR and NETS QR to avoid consumer confusion.

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5 Jan 2021

Scarcity of ATMS in Non-mature Estates

MP Don Wee asked MAS to regulate or incentivise banks to install more ATMs in non-mature estates due to scarcity.
The Prime Minister responded that ATM access is generally good, with over 2,660 ATMs and 4,100 cash withdrawal touchpoints across Singapore, including in non-mature estates.
MAS will work with banks to address specific accessibility issues in certain areas and promote awareness of alternative cash withdrawal points.
The government is encouraging a shift to digital payments, noting a 20% decline in cash withdrawals over three years and ongoing support for digital literacy, especially among the elderly.

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5 Jan 2021

Clarification by Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Minister for Foreign Affairs clarified that TraceTogether’s primary purpose is COVID-19 contact tracing, emphasizing its high participation rate and privacy protections, including Bluetooth-only data collection, 25-day auto-purge, and no GPS tracking.
He acknowledged that under the Criminal Procedure Code, police can access TraceTogether data for serious criminal investigations, though this power must be exercised judiciously, and committed to transparency and maintaining public trust.
Ministers responded to questions about data deletion post-pandemic, potential impact on adoption, and specific assurances that most Singaporeans would not be affected, reiterating the balance between public health and privacy.

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4 Jan 2021

Assistance for Non-IT-savvy Elderly and Vulnerable Without SingPass Applying for Build-To-Order and Sale of Balance Flats Online

Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked what assistance HDB provides for elderly and vulnerable individuals without SingPass or IT skills to apply for Build-To-Order and Sale of Balance flats online.
Minister Desmond Lee stated that flat applications are online via HDB InfoWEB, and those without internet access can seek help from family, friends, or the community.
For those needing further assistance, such as seniors without devices or digital skills and without support, they can call the HDB Sales/Resale Customer Service Line for help.
If face-to-face engagement is needed, HDB will invite them to HDB Hub for in-person assistance while adhering to safe management measures.

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