Digital & technology — Topics

7 Oct 2019

Driver Assistance Technologies to Make Our Roads Safer

Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Transport to review driver assistance technologies like intelligent speed assistance, drowsiness detection, lane-keeping assistance, and event data recorders to assess their potential for making roads safer in Singapore.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that LTA supports leveraging technology for road safety, citing existing safety features on public buses since 2014, and plans to collaborate with industry and government to adopt proven technologies when commercially available.
He emphasized that road safety is a collective effort requiring both technology and user behavior, noting a 20% drop in fatal accidents over five years and a reduction in injury accidents, while stressing the goal to eliminate all road accidents.

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7 Oct 2019

Complaints Made to Do Not Call Registry

Melvin Yong asked for data on complaints to the Do Not Call registry over the past three years, including repeat cases and enforcement actions.
S Iswaran responded that 46,600 complaints were received since 2017, with 90% related to serious crimes and about 400 repeat cases.
The Personal Data Protection Commission has taken action against over 1,000 organisations, including warnings and prosecution, based on factors like harm and recidivism.

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4 Sep 2019

Government Documents Accessible on NAS Archives Online

Leon Perera asked what proportion of government documents over 25 years old are on the NAS Archives Online and what proportion of declassified documents are publicly accessible, to which the Senior Minister of State replied that while 2 million records are in custody, only 160,000 metadata entries are currently online due to national security and privacy constraints.
Perera further questioned whether declassified documents already on the NAS platform could be made freely accessible without requiring written permission, raised the possibility of periodic reviews to release older documents over time, and asked for the definition of a "researcher" for access purposes.
The Senior Minister of State responded that the government aims to increase publicly viewable documents, is prioritizing declassification with training for agencies, and noted that the definition of a researcher is based on common understanding and the NLB Act, while encouraging public requests for access.

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3 Sep 2019

Additional Measures to Tackle Spam SMSes from Illegal Moneylenders and Sports Betting Syndicates

The Ministry is collaborating with home affairs and police authorities to curb spam SMSes from illegal moneylenders and sports betting syndicates by targeting prepaid SIM card abuse.
Measures include restricting the number of prepaid SIM cards per person since 2014 and exploring tighter regulations alongside technical solutions with telecom providers.
Public awareness campaigns using infographics and guidance on phone spam filters are being promoted to help individuals block and report such messages.
Citizens are advised to report illicit SMSes through designated hotlines or platforms to support enforcement efforts.

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3 Sep 2019

Adoption Rate of Cashless Transactions in Singapore

PayNow individual registrations have reached 2.8 million, covering over 65% of Singaporeans aged 20-75, while PayNow Corporate has seen 115,000 entity registrations, representing about half of active businesses.
QR code adoption through SGQR has been deployed at over 32,000 merchants, including hawker centres, with 20% penetration of retail acceptance points, though usage at hawker stalls is still growing.
The government is promoting e-payments through infrastructure that allows multiple providers to compete, leading to decreased cash and cheque usage, with cheque volumes declining by 8% annually over the last three years.

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2 Sep 2019

Measures to Ensure Electricity Retailers Take All Necessary Safeguards to Protect Consumers' Identities

Electricity retailers must comply with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and the Energy Market Authority’s (EMA) Code of Conduct, which require obtaining consumer consent and implementing reasonable security safeguards, with EMA conducting Mystery Shopper Audits to enforce compliance.
Consumers whose identities are misused or compromised should first approach the retailer to resolve the issue, and they can terminate unauthorized contracts without early termination fees while seeking help from CASE or EMA, which may penalize or suspend non-compliant retailers.
Consumers can report PDPA breaches to the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), and retailers may face financial penalties of up to $1 million for violations.

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6 Aug 2019

Home Team Science and Technology Agency Bill

The Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) is established as a statutory board to centralize and advance science and technology capabilities for Singapore's Home Team, addressing evolving security threats and operational challenges such as cybercrime, terrorism, and increased traveler and cargo volumes.
HTX will consolidate existing expertise, develop cutting-edge solutions like biometrics, predictive policing, and robotics, and foster a "One Home Team" approach to enhance coordination, while ensuring accountability under MHA and adherence to data security and privacy safeguards.
The agency aims to attract and develop STEM talent, collaborate with public and private sectors, and balance technological innovation with societal concerns like privacy and mental well-being, supported by a budget from MHA and governance under existing parliamentary and audit processes.

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6 Aug 2019

Reasons for Repetitive Findings of IT Lapses in Government Agencies

The repeated IT lapses in government agencies are attributed to systemic issues such as the lack of regular reviews of system architecture and security controls, as well as over-reliance on manual processes for tasks like access management, which can lead to errors and delays.
To address these issues, the government is deploying centralized IT infrastructure with regular architecture reviews, tightening governance guidelines, and automating IT processes across the public sector to reduce manual errors while maintaining oversight.
The 2009–2011 audit of 85 agencies identified weaknesses in internal review processes, while the 2018–2019 findings highlighted challenges in individuals complying with complex manual policies, both centering on vendor management and access rights from different angles.
The government plans to raise IT security awareness and capabilities among officers, with the Public Sector Data Security Review Committee set to present recommendations that cover technical, process, and people measures.

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5 Aug 2019

Checks in Integrity of Work Permit, and Employment and S Pass Systems

Mr Png Eng Huat asked if any forensic review was conducted on the Work Permit and Employment/S Pass systems from 2011 to 2017 due to a lack of reviews of IT vendor staff activities during that period.
The Ministry of Manpower reviewed available logs from 2018 onward and found no unauthorized activity, and now conducts monthly reviews.
The Ministry has implemented system segregation, access controls, and session recordings for administrators since 2011, with no unauthorized activity detected, so a forensic review was not warranted.

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5 Aug 2019

Measures to Protect Privacy of Drivers with New Satellite ERP System

The government will incorporate security technologies and controls in the new satellite ERP system to protect driver privacy as a key requirement in the tender.
ERP data will be anonymised and aggregated for traffic management and analysis, and will not include driver identity.
Strict access controls will be enforced to ensure only authorised personnel can access the collected data.

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8 Jul 2019

Engagement and Outreach Activities Conducted by Cyber Security Agency

The Cyber Security Agency (CSA) has conducted various engagement and outreach activities since 2015, including nationwide awareness campaigns, roadshows, school talks, and a Cyber Savvy vending machine in libraries to promote cyber hygiene practices.
Target audiences for CSA’s outreach programmes include the public, enterprises, and students, with specific resources like the Be Safe Online Handbook for businesses and Cyber Safety activity books for primary school students.
Plans are in place to expand public outreach programmes, such as deploying more vending machines in community, commercial, and school settings, and continuing collaborations with agencies like the Ministry of Education to reach more students.

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8 Jul 2019

Update on Investigation into Breach of Singapore Red Cross Website and Remedial Actions Taken

The Singapore Red Cross website was breached in May 2019 due to a weak administrator password, compromising the data of about 4,300 blood donors, and investigations by the Police and PDPC are ongoing.
NGOs and VWOs are not legally required to comply with government IT security guidelines but must follow the Personal Data Protection Act, with support provided by agencies like PDPC and CSA through guidelines and resources.
The government is committed to helping NGOs and VWOs build resilient IT security frameworks, while these organizations also bear responsibility for safeguarding confidential data.

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8 Jul 2019

Efficacy of Home Access Programme and NEU PC Plus Programme in Helping Low-income Families in Adoption and Use of Digital Technology

Prof Lim Sun Sun questioned the Ministry for Communications and Information on how it assesses the efficacy of the Home Access Programme and the NEU PC Plus Programme, and whether low-income families' technology adoption and digital literacy skills are tracked.
The Ministry, via the Infocomm Media Development Authority, reported that the Home Access Programme has benefited over 12,000 households since 2014, with surveys indicating high satisfaction and confidence in using the internet.
The NEU PC Plus Programme has assisted more than 40,000 households since 2006, with surveys showing that most families and students found the programme beneficial for education and independent learning.
Additional digital literacy support, such as introductory training and initiatives like Silver Infocomm Junctions and Digital Clinics, is provided to equip beneficiaries with necessary skills.
The Ministry stated that its support programmes are regularly refined to meet the evolving needs of low-income families.

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8 Jul 2019

Use of WhatsApp by Health Institutions to Communicate Medical Information and Records to Patients

Public healthcare institutions are not permitted to use WhatsApp or similar platforms for sending sensitive medical information, and instead rely on face-to-face consultations.
The Ministry of Health has directed cluster Chief Information Officers to remind staff of this policy to ensure compliance.
Patients can access selected medical information securely via HealthHub using the Singpass platform.
The measures address concerns about data security following recent breaches on messaging platforms like WhatsApp.

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8 Jul 2019

Update on Action against Fraudulent Websites and Fake Social Media Accounts Using the Names of Singapore Ministers

The Police review all reports of fraudulent websites and fake social media accounts using Singapore Ministers’ names, with perpetrators liable for cheating offences carrying up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine, or under the Protection from Harassment Act with up to six months’ imprisonment, a $5,000 fine, or both.
Some perpetrators have been identified and prosecuted, such as a 2016 case where an individual impersonating Senior Minister of State Dr Koh Poh Koon was fined $4,000 for attempted cheating by personation.
Police work with agencies like IMDA to block access to known fraudulent websites via internet service providers and collaborate with social media platforms to remove fake accounts.
The Police also investigate other types of fraudulent conduct beyond the misuse of Ministers’ names.

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8 Jul 2019

Number of Foreign Motorists Summoned for Not Displaying Vehicle Plates Properly and Measures to Ensure Easy Identification of Foreign Vehicles

Rahayu Mahzam asked about the number of foreign motorists summoned in the past three years for improperly displayed vehicle plates and the measures to ensure foreign vehicles are easily identifiable at checkpoints.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that between July 2017 and May 2019, the Land Transport Authority turned back over 2,200 foreign vehicles for failing to display licence plates properly.
The Ministry of Transport is developing an enhanced enforcement system using cameras, sensors, and data analytics to better identify vehicles with improperly displayed plates, to be deployed in the second half of 2020.

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8 Jul 2019

Managing Operators and Protecting the Public in Potential Shake-up in Banking System

Miss Cheryl Chan inquired about regulatory changes to manage potential banking system disruptions from Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency, focusing on market competitiveness and data privacy.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam noted that Libra aims to lower payment costs and include the unbanked but is still in early development, with details pending on its implementation and governance.
He stated that Singapore’s existing Payment Services Act and Personal Data Protection Act already cover digital payment tokens and data privacy, and MAS will assess Libra’s benefits and risks as details emerge.

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8 Jul 2019

Terms of Operations for Virtual Banks

MAS will issue up to five digital bank licences, including two digital full bank licences for retail deposits and three digital wholesale bank licences for SMEs, to foster innovation while maintaining stability.
Digital banks will face the same prudential requirements as traditional banks, including capital, liquidity, and consumer lending rules, to ensure a level playing field and protect depositors.
MAS will phase in activities for digital full banks with deposit caps initially, and may impose additional supervisory measures to prevent unsustainable competition.
Lower operational costs for digital banks could lead to benefits such as fee-free accounts and better credit access for underserved segments, while encouraging traditional banks to enhance their digital offerings.
The regulatory framework aims to balance innovation with stability, though consumers remain responsible for understanding deposit insurance limits and bank risks.

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8 Jul 2019

Review of Smart Nation Initiatives to Improve Reach and Access to Persons with Disabilities

Mr Leon Perera asked if there will be regular reviews of Smart Nation initiatives to improve reach and access for persons with disabilities.
Minister S Iswaran affirmed that inclusivity is a priority, with existing support including IMDA’s NEU PC Plus and Enable IT programmes and the Assistive Technology Fund for subsidised devices and technology.
The government regularly refines initiatives, such as expanding IT/AT loan libraries and enhancing Digital Service Standards to ensure digital services are accessible, with ongoing reviews and collaboration across sectors.
A cross-sectoral workgroup has been launched to promote independent living through technology and design for persons with disabilities, reflecting continued commitment to inclusive digital transformation.

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8 Jul 2019

Number of Users who Have Changed SingPass ID to Non-NRIC Login

Mohamed Irshad asked how many people changed their SingPass ID from NRIC, whether other unique IDs are studied, and what efforts inform users of this option.
As of the debate, 26,000 users had changed their SingPass ID to a non-NRIC identifier, and the SingPass website publicizes this option.
The government has launched the SingPass Mobile app with biometric or PIN login and over 300,000 downloads, and urges good cyber hygiene and use of two-factor authentication.

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