Digital & technology — Topics

8 Jul 2019

Attempted Suicide Cases Due to Undesirable Online Influence

Gan Thiam Poh asked about the number of attempted suicides due to online influence in the past five years, measures to block harmful websites, and whether current legislation is sufficient, while K Shanmugam stated that suicide causes are complex and not tracked by specific factors like online influence.
The government can regulate and block harmful websites under the Broadcasting Act and Internet Code of Practice, but it is not practical to remove all objectionable content due to the internet's nature.
Public education, cyber wellness lessons in schools, and community initiatives are emphasized as the primary approach to prevent suicide and promote responsible internet use.

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8 Jul 2019

Efforts to Educate and Raise Awareness for Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act

Anthea Ong asked about the Ministry’s training plan for Ministers and civil service teams on using the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), and about public education programmes on the Act’s intent and implications for citizens and civil society.
S Iswaran responded that POFMA followed a thorough consultation process and that Ministries, supported by the POFMA Office and legal guidance, have the expertise to assess falsehoods and public interest, ensuring consistent implementation.
The Minister emphasized that POFMA will not affect regular conversations or honest public discourse, with corrections for inadvertent sharing and criminal prosecution reserved for malicious actors.
The Government will work with partners to support information and media literacy programmes, helping people identify falsehoods and be circumspect in sharing information online.

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8 Jul 2019

Take-up Rate by Employers for MINDEF's Direct Reimbursement Claims System

The Direct Reimbursement Scheme, which allows employers to be reimbursed by MINDEF for salaries paid during NS training, currently has a 45% take-up rate among employers, having increased by 7 percentage points over the past three years.
MINDEF is enhancing the scheme to address challenges and improve the take-up rate, such as integrating the Make-up Pay e-Service with CorpPass to simplify the claims process for employers.
Employers are encouraged to register for the scheme via the NS Portal to streamline their make-up pay processes for national servicemen employees.

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8 Jul 2019

Steps to Ensure Law Firms Strengthen IT Processes and Cyber Security

The Law Society has issued advisories and guidance to help law firms strengthen IT and cybersecurity practices, including guidance on email security and fraud prevention.
Law firms are responsible for their own IT processes and must comply with the Personal Data Protection Act and the Legal Profession Act to protect client data and confidentiality.
Clients are advised to exercise vigilance by verifying payment instructions and scrutinizing emails, and victims of scams should report incidents to the police.

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8 Jul 2019

Impact of Huawei Ban on Singapore’s 5G Deployment

Leon Perera asked about the impact of the US Huawei ban on Singapore's 5G deployment.
S Iswaran stated that Singapore plans to begin 5G infrastructure rollout next year as planned, while closely monitoring developments.
The government is consulting stakeholders, evaluating technical aspects, and piloting 5G use cases to ensure a resilient and secure deployment.

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8 Jul 2019

Follow-up by Malaysia to Protect Information Leaked on Malaysian Vehicle Entry Permit Website

Rahayu Mahzam inquired about follow-up measures taken with Malaysian authorities after a security breach on Malaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit website exposed data of Singaporean and foreign motorists in April 2019.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that the breach involved Malaysia’s VEP system, which uses RFID tags for foreign vehicles, distinct from Singapore’s VEP system that equalises costs for Malaysia-registered vehicles in Singapore.
The Malaysian Road Transport Department’s VEP website was taken down on 26 April 2019 after the breach was reported, with the issue rectified the following day, and Malaysia’s Transport Ministry emphasised its commitment to urgent data security.

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8 Jul 2019

Presence of Drones near Changi Airport and Delays Caused to Flights

The Singapore government confirmed that unauthorised drone intrusions near Changi Airport in June 2019 caused 55 flight delays and eight diversions, with police investigations ongoing but no perpetrators yet identified.
To address the issue, a mandatory drone registration regime and stricter enforcement actions are being introduced, including higher penalties for offenders, with registration expected to be implemented by the end of 2019.
Authorities are enhancing counter-drone capabilities, such as detection and disruption systems, and exploring a central flight management system to monitor drones, though challenges remain in tracking uncooperative operators.

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8 May 2019

Oversight of Payment Services Firms that Promote a Selected E-currency Proprietary Token

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked whether MAS is monitoring firms promoting proprietary e-currency tokens not linked to Singapore dollars, their compliance with the Payment Services Act, and what measures MAS will take to address risks.
The Prime Minister responded that the Act regulates payment services, distinguishing e-money (pegged to currency) from digital payment tokens (DPTs), with DPTs not requiring safeguarding of customer funds.
MAS focuses on anti-money laundering for DPTs but does not provide the same consumer protections as for e-money, warning the public of value loss risks.
DPT service providers must be licensed and make clear disclosures to customers, with MAS consulting on requirements and issuing advisories to highlight risks.
MAS is closely monitoring the sector to ensure the regulatory framework remains effective amid the nascent stage of DPT services.

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8 May 2019

Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill

Supporters argued that the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (POFMA) is necessary to combat harmful online falsehoods that threaten public interest, social harmony, and national security, with safeguards such as judicial oversight and corrective directions instead of outright censorship.
Opponents expressed concern that the Bill grants excessive power to ministers, potentially chilling free speech and enabling the government to suppress criticism, especially during elections, by acting as both judge and jury.
The government clarified that the Bill’s powers are narrower than existing laws, provide rapid response mechanisms with appeal avenues to the courts, and are intended to target falsehoods—not opinions—with accountability to Parliament and the public.

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8 May 2019

Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill

Proponents of the bill, including government members and some MPs, argued it is necessary to combat the serious and fast-spreading threat of online falsehoods to Singapore’s social harmony, national security, and public institutions, with corrections being the primary response and a robust appeals process to the courts available.
Opponents, notably the Workers’ Party and some Nominated MPs, contended that giving ministers the power to be the first arbiter of truth poses a risk of abuse, could chill free speech and public debate, and proposed that the judiciary should be the initial decision-maker.
The debate also highlighted broader concerns about the bill's potential impact on academic freedom, journalism, and public discourse, with calls for clearer definitions of "falsehood" and "public interest," and suggestions for an independent council to provide oversight.

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7 May 2019

Update on Deployment of Smart Gravitraps

Miss Cheng Li Hui inquired about the number and locations of Smart Gravitraps deployed in a trial since late 2018, their data usefulness for dengue control, and potential nationwide introduction.
The NEA, with a local start-up, developed a Smart Gravitrap prototype that identifies mosquito species and gender remotely, reducing manual data collection efforts.
A six-month pilot trial of the prototypes is planned for the second half of 2019 at two construction sites to guide product development, with decisions on nationwide rollout pending trial results.

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7 May 2019

Potential Job Creation in Electric Cars Industry

The government is developing a smart mobility ecosystem in Singapore through investments in electric vehicle manufacturing and auxiliary technologies, which is expected to create many new jobs across hardware and software sectors.
While exact job numbers cannot be provided, the ecosystem will benefit adjacent industries such as semiconductors, telecommunications, and finance, generating diverse employment opportunities.
Government agencies are collaborating with companies, training providers, and unions to prepare Singaporeans through Industry 4.0 training and AI/data analytics programmes to equip them for these new roles.

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7 May 2019

Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill

Christopher de Souza argues the bill is necessary to protect freedom of speech from corrosive falsehoods, emphasizing the need for swift executive action to counter rapidly spreading misinformation, with judicial review as a check on power.
Pritam Singh and Low Thia Khiang oppose the bill, criticizing the broad powers granted to ministers to decide what constitutes falsehoods and the potential for abuse, arguing that courts should be the first to adjudicate such matters.
Seah Kian Peng supports the bill as a calibrated tool to address online falsehoods while highlighting the importance of societal responsibility and developing online norms to combat misinformation beyond legal measures.

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7 May 2019

Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill

The Minister for Law defended the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill (POFMA), arguing it narrows existing executive powers by focusing only on false statements of fact and provides greater judicial oversight through a fast, inexpensive appeal process to the High Court.
He outlined the global threat of online falsehoods weaponized by state actors, commercial interests, and political groups to erode public trust and destabilize societies, citing examples from the UK, US, and other nations as a rationale for the legislation.
The Workers' Party opposed the Bill, contending that the executive should not be the initial arbiter of falsehoods and expressing concern that broad definitions and subjective Ministerial discretion could chill free speech and be subject to abuse.
Nominated Member Irene Quay supported the legislative intent but proposed amendments to clarify key definitions, expedite the appeals process in primary legislation, and establish an independent oversight council for greater accountability.
The government maintained that the current approach balances the need for swift action against falsehoods with safeguards, rejecting the proposed independent council in favor of accountability through Parliament and the Courts.

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7 May 2019

Progress of Rolling Out 5G Network in Singapore

The Minister confirmed that Singapore is on track to roll out 5G networks by 2020, with IMDA launching a public consultation to shape the regulatory framework and spectrum allocation for 5G.
The government will call for proposals, but the 5G infrastructure will be owned and deployed by private telcos, similar to previous network generations.
The government is focusing on working with existing telcos and ensuring network resilience and diversity, rather than mandating specific vendors or immediately adding more telcos.

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6 May 2019

Competition from China's Plan for Greater Bay Area Project

Singapore views the Greater Bay Area (GBA) development as an opportunity to strengthen its ties and collaboration with key cities like Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, particularly through existing frameworks such as the Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council and the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City.
The government is actively engaged with GBA authorities to foster cooperation in technology innovation, financial services, and digital economy, with initiatives like the ASEAN Smart Cities Network and agreements between the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
Singapore continues to bolster its competitiveness by investing in digital economy frameworks, upskilling programs like TechSkills Accelerator, and supporting SMEs' digitalization to ensure its key industries remain relevant and can tap into GBA opportunities while mitigating competitive risks.

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6 May 2019

Public Agencies’ Exemption from Personal Data Protection Act

Public agencies and officers are governed by the Public Sector (Governance) Act and Instruction Manual 8, which criminalize unauthorized data disclosure and impose fines or imprisonment for breaches.
Additional laws like the Official Secrets Act and specific sectoral acts further deter irresponsible data handling, while internal disciplinary actions can be taken for negligence.
Regular audits and compliance checks under IM8 enforce specific security measures, with agencies required to address gaps and have their actions tracked to completion.
A dedicated committee is reviewing and recommending enhancements to data security policies to keep pace with technological advances and maintain public confidence.

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1 Apr 2019

Regulation on Access to CCTVs Installed in Public and Private Premises

Mr Ang Wei Neng asked whether the Ministry plans to better regulate CCTV installation and access in public and private premises after a recent outcry over CCTVs in a private gym.
S Iswaran stated that CCTV service providers must hold a Security Service Provider licence under the Private Security Industry Act, requiring security screening to ensure they are fit and proper persons.
Under the PDPA, organisations must notify individuals and obtain consent for collecting personal data via CCTVs and protect such data with reasonable security arrangements.
The PDPC has issued advisory guidelines on good practices, such as placing notices at entry points, and will investigate breaches, issuing directions or imposing financial penalties for non-compliance.

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1 Apr 2019

Time Limit for Telecommunications Companies to Complete Porting of Telephone Numbers

The time limit for porting mobile telephone numbers is one working day, while fixed-line numbers for consumers must be ported within five working days, with longer timelines possible in cases like switching fibre broadband providers.
If porting takes longer than expected, subscribers continue to receive services and are charged by their outgoing operator, but they can seek recourse from the operator for bill adjustments or waivers.
The Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) may intervene to protect consumer interests if issues arise during the porting process.

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1 Apr 2019

Number of Complaints Received by Personal Data Protection Commission and Referred for Alternative Dispute Resolution

Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Communications and Information for data on complaints referred for alternative dispute resolution since 2014 and how many resulted in settlements or redress.
The Minister responded that since 2014, the PDPC facilitated resolutions in 866 instances and one case was sent to mediation with both parties' consent.
The Minister noted that the settlement terms are confidential and did not disclose specific numbers of complaints referred or redress outcomes.

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