Digital & technology — Topics

1 Apr 2019

Statistics on Business E-mail Compromise Scams and Measures to Educate Potential Victims

Over the last five years, the number of business e-mail compromise scams in Singapore increased from 98 cases in 2014 to 378 cases in 2018, with financial losses rising from about $11 million to about $57 million.
The Police do not track the total amount of money recovered from these scams, and recovery is challenging as they are often conducted by overseas criminal syndicates, though recovered funds are returned to owners via court applications.
The Police are working with business organizations to educate potential victims through email advisories, pamphlets, web postings, and outreach events, and have also set up an Anti-Scam Helpline and the scamalert.sg website.

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1 Apr 2019

Effectiveness of Online Appointment System in Reducing Waiting Time at Polyclinics

The median waiting time at polyclinics was 11 minutes in 2018, down from 14 minutes in 2017, showing an improvement.
Online appointment systems allow patients, including those with chronic conditions or needing unplanned visits, to schedule appointments via HealthHub or contact centres, reducing wait times to arriving 15 minutes before the appointment.
Healthcare assistants are available on-site to assist elderly or IT-savvy individuals with registration and learning to use online platforms, especially for unplanned visits.

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1 Apr 2019

Mandatory Cybersecurity Courses for Government and Private Sector Employees

The Government has made cybersecurity training mandatory for all public officers through an IT security awareness programme launched in 2018, with additional measures like annual conferences and regular cyber exercises to build awareness and response capabilities.
For the private sector, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) promotes cybersecurity through talks, online resources, and programmes like "Cyber Tips 4 You," while Critical Information Infrastructure owners must meet legal obligations to establish employee awareness programmes and participate in exercises.
The Government is committed to working with the private sector and individuals to strengthen Singapore's Digital Defence by instilling a strong cybersecurity culture across all levels.

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1 Apr 2019

Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill

The bill aims to prevent the communication of false statements of fact online and suppress support for such communication in Singapore.
It seeks to safeguard against the use of online accounts for spreading false information and manipulating information.
The bill also enables measures to enhance the transparency of online political advertisements.

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1 Apr 2019

Role of Personal Data Protection Commission in Investigating Blood Donors' Data Leak

The Personal Data Protection Commission is investigating the private IT vendor Secur Solutions Group for the HSA data leak and will take enforcement action if a breach of the PDPA is found, while a separate government review is examining HSA's data security practices.
Public agencies are not exempt from accountability; they are governed by the Public Sector (Governance) Act and other regulations, which impose comparable or higher data protection standards, and citizens can lodge complaints with GovTech or seek civil action for breaches.
A Public Sector Data Security Review Committee has been convened to comprehensively review and strengthen data security practices across all government agencies, with findings due by 30 November 2019.
The Minister emphasized that penalties focus on individual officers rather than financial fines on agencies, as the latter would burden the public purse, but reputational damage and accountability measures serve as significant deterrents.
Investigations into the HSA leak are ongoing, including the source of unauthorized access and the extent of data exposure, with the government committed to transparency and incorporating best practices to enhance data security.

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1 Apr 2019

Remedial Actions Following Blood Donors' Personal Data Leak

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and its vendor Secur Solutions immediately disabled access to the exposed server after a foreign cybersecurity expert reported the vulnerability, and investigations are ongoing while the expert has confirmed data deletion and made no compensation demands.
The HSA Board has established a special committee to review data management policies, and the Prime Minister has convened a separate public sector-wide committee to comprehensively review data security practices across all government agencies.
The Ministry of Health agreed that streamlining IT procurement across its departments and public healthcare entities would help reduce personal data access by multiple vendors, a process already being implemented progressively.

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6 Mar 2019

Statistics for Top 10 Scams

The number of reported cases for the top 10 scams in Singapore, including e-commerce, loan, and internet love scams, increased from around 2,600 in 2014 to about 5,800 in 2018.
The Singapore Police Force has enhanced resources by integrating cybercrime investigations under a single command, training all frontline and investigation officers in basic cybercrime, and forming specialized units like the Transnational Commercial Crime Task Force and E-Commerce Fraud Enforcement and Coordination Team.
Prevention efforts involve collaboration with stakeholders such as banks, convenience stores, and online platforms to raise awareness, train staff, and implement measures, alongside public education through the Anti-Scam Helpline and scamalert.sg website.
Frontline police officers have basic cybercrime training, with specialized training for those with aptitude, and the police are continuously engaging in ongoing outreach to address staff turnover in partner organizations.
Cybercrime investigations are consolidated under a single command to pool resources across divisions, ensuring a concerted, multi-pronged approach to tackling scams.

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4 Mar 2019

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

Parliament debated how to accelerate Singapore’s digital transformation, focusing on helping businesses, especially SMEs, adopt technology and on preparing workers through skills upgrading, with questions raised about the effectiveness of existing schemes and the need for better support.
Concerns were raised about cybersecurity threats, the need for stronger public awareness, and the adequacy of current measures, including the protection of critical infrastructure and the potential for victim compensation following data breaches.
The digital divide, particularly for seniors and low-income households, was highlighted, with calls for targeted outreach, improved digital literacy, and more accessible services to ensure inclusivity.
The media sector and libraries are being transformed to stay relevant in the digital age, with efforts to enhance content, expand e-resources, and foster lifelong learning and community engagement.
The government outlined plans to develop a secure, trusted cyberspace, advance AI governance, and strengthen cross-border data flows to support economic growth while safeguarding public interests.

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1 Mar 2019

Committee of Supply – Head P (Ministry of Home Affairs)

Members raised concerns about foreign interference in domestic politics, the spread of online falsehoods and hate speech, and the need for tighter legislation and public education to safeguard Singapore's social fabric and democratic processes.
The Ministry announced the establishment of a new Home Team Science and Technology Agency to enhance capabilities in areas like biometrics, surveillance, forensics, and cybersecurity, with a focus on developing in-house expertise and ensuring data security.
Discussions highlighted the importance of maintaining religious harmony, combating drug abuse, and rehabilitating offenders, with updates on community campaigns, employment support for ex-offenders, and plans to address emerging trends like drug liberalisation abroad.
Road and fire safety were addressed, with plans to amend laws to impose stiffer penalties for irresponsible driving and require fire safety upgrades for older buildings, alongside community education efforts.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to counter-terrorism through community partnerships, SGSecure initiatives, and detecting self-radicalisation, while noting the ongoing need for vigilance and resilience.

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1 Mar 2019

Committee of Supply – Head J (Ministry of Defence)

The Minister for Defence outlined significant investments in modernising the SAF with new platforms such as F-35 fighter jets, Invincible-class submarines, and multi-role combat vessels to enhance capabilities across air, land, and sea, and to operate effectively with a leaner manpower pool by 2030.
Emphasis was placed on advancing digital defence, including the establishment of the Defence Cyber Organisation and the Cyber NSF Scheme, to address emerging cyber threats and integrate cybersecurity into national defence.
The debate highlighted the importance of safety and support for national servicemen, with measures such as an Inspector-General for Safety, a new NS Hub, and initiatives like SkillsFuture@NS to enhance training, reduce administrative burdens, and improve the overall NS experience.

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1 Mar 2019

Checks and Audits on CHAS Subsidy Calculations

Members of Parliament raised concerns about the accuracy of CHAS subsidy calculations after a system error led to incorrect subsidies for 7,700 recipients, questioning audit frequency, on-site verification, in-house computation, vendor accountability, and the outsourcing of IT systems.
The Health Ministry explained the error stemmed from a wrong software file version during a server migration, resulting in an estimated $2 million in overpayments, with costs to be recovered from the vendor NCS, while underpaid recipients would be reimbursed.
The Ministry outlined existing audit processes, agreed to enhance beneficiary verification, and committed to reviewing testing and deployment procedures, including independent quality assurance, but defended outsourcing as efficient for mature systems.

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28 Feb 2019

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

MPs emphasized that the Public Service must become more agile, citizen-centric, and technologically adept, leveraging AI, data analytics, and design thinking to improve service delivery and efficiency, while ensuring officers are continuously reskilled and values-driven.
Ministers detailed efforts to build a Smart Nation by integrating digital services (e.g., Moments of Life app, PayNow), enhancing cybersecurity and data protection, and partnering with businesses and the community to co-create solutions and ensure digital inclusion for all.
The government reaffirmed its support for families through enhanced marriage and parenthood incentives, while acknowledging deep cultural and economic factors behind low fertility rates, and committed to maintaining selective immigration and supporting seniors’ active aging.

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13 Feb 2019

Personal Data Information Lapse Incidents Reported and Disclosed to Public

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira requested annual statistics from 2014 to 2018 on government personal data incidents reported to police or the PDPC, disclosure rates to the public and affected individuals, and average timelines for reporting and disclosure.
Over the past three years, the government reported 41 incidents to the police, mostly involving lost physical assets like laptops, with 80% reported the same day; these are not reported to the PDPC as it does not investigate government incidents.
Of the 41 police-reported cases, individuals were notified in seven incidents and both individuals and the public in four, taking an average of three weeks from police report to notification for investigation and evidence safeguarding.
The remaining 30 police reports involved lost physical assets with no specific individual data compromised, while separate internal data mishandling incidents like misaddressed letters or emails are handled internally without police involvement.

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12 Feb 2019

Integrating Platforms to Facilitate Donations through Smart Nation Initiatives

Ms Anthea Ong asked whether the Smart Nation narrative includes a Smart Giving Nation component and how its architecture supports vulnerable groups and integrates with social sector and giving platforms.
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean explained that Smart Nation has three equally important thrusts: Digital Economy, Digital Government, and Digital Readiness, with the latter focused on inclusive technology use to build a caring and resilient society.
The government is leveraging digital platforms like Volunteer.sg, SG Cares, and the Agency for Integrated Care's Dementia Friends to improve coordination among social agencies and enable real-time community support for vulnerable individuals.
Digital Readiness initiatives by the Ministry of Communications and Information encourage digital inclusion, with regular usability checks on government digital services and involvement of diverse users in design.
The Smart Nation and Digital Government Group aims to partner with community and volunteer organizations to better serve all Singaporeans through technology.

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12 Feb 2019

Unauthorised Possession and Disclosure of Information from HIV Registry

The Minister for Health detailed the unauthorized disclosure of HIV Registry data by Mikhy Farrera Brochez and Dr. Ler Teck Siang, affecting over 16,000 individuals, and outlined MOH's decision-making process on public disclosure, emphasizing the balance between transparency and patient well-being.
MOH has implemented enhanced data security measures, including stricter access controls, a two-person approval process for data downloads, and expanded data governance, while also providing support services for affected individuals.
The government highlighted ongoing legal actions against Brochez and Ler, stressed the need for societal support to reduce HIV stigma, and affirmed that penalties for data misuse are under review.

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12 Feb 2019

Review of Public Agencies Exemption Provisions in Personal Data Protection Act

Sylvia Lim questioned whether the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) should be amended to remove exemptions for public agencies, citing concerns about data protection breaches and limited recourse for citizens in the public sector.
Minister S Iswaran defended the current framework, explaining that public agencies are governed by separate but robust legislation like the Public Sector (Governance) Act (PSGA), which aligns with PDPA standards and ensures high data protection, while allowing necessary data sharing for efficient public services.
Lim raised concerns about weak citizen recourse under existing public sector rules and suggested the PDPA’s complaints mechanism and oversight by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) could be beneficial, especially in cases like the SingHealth breach.
The Minister responded that citizens have multiple complaint channels, including to ministries, GovTech, or police, and that the public sector’s data governance standards are as strong as or stronger than the private sector’s, with regular reviews to maintain effectiveness.
Both sides acknowledged the need for different approaches in public and private sectors but emphasized the importance of ensuring citizen recourse and maintaining high data protection standards across both.

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12 Feb 2019

Proposal for Legislation to Deal with Foreign Interference of Singapore’s Election and Politics

The debate highlighted that foreign interference in elections and politics, using tactics like disinformation and fake accounts, is a real and growing threat seen in countries like the US, UK, and Ukraine, and Singapore is especially vulnerable due to its open society and sensitive fault lines.
The government cited past and recent instances of foreign interference in Singapore, including historical cases of foreign-funded newspapers, the expulsion of an academic for acting as a foreign agent, and the SingHealth hacking incident, underscoring the need for updated legal frameworks.
The government outlined a two-pronged strategy: enhancing public awareness and discernment against falsehoods, and developing new legislation to swiftly counter hostile information campaigns and pre-emptively expose clandestine foreign interference.
The response emphasized that existing laws are outdated for modern threats, and the government will move on these issues later this year, considering recommendations from the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods.
The debate concluded with a reaffirmation that Singapore's politics must be for Singaporeans alone to decide, and the government is committed to safeguarding political sovereignty from foreign actors.

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12 Feb 2019

Preventive Measures Implemented Following Data Leak Involving Persons with HIV

Members of Parliament raised concerns about how to protect the personal data of 14,200 people affected by the HIV registry leak, prevent stigmatisation and discrimination, and maintain public trust in HIV testing.
Questions focused on access controls and tracking of HIV registry data, the deportation and prior actions of the leaker, and the timing and adequacy of alerts to affected patients.
Further queries addressed the takedown of the online leak, protection from harassment, and steps to prevent the leaker from misusing the data internationally.
The Minister for Health was asked about additional security measures for confidential information and the review of public disclosure standards for data breaches.

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11 Feb 2019

Update on Status of Digital TV (DTV) Conversion

Mr Ang Hin Kee sought an update on the digital TV conversion, including key learnings and assistance for households yet to switch.
Minister S Iswaran reported that Singapore fully transitioned to DTV on 1 January 2019, with 90% of households now able to access it, while others do not need to switch as they use alternatives like Toggle.
The conversion involved reaching over 540,000 households and deploying a nationwide DTV network, supported by an intensive outreach campaign that helped 77% of eligible households switch via the DTV Starter Kit.
To assist remaining households, the DTV Starter Kit application deadline was extended to 31 March 2019, and IMDA will continue providing advice and technical support.

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11 Feb 2019

Take-up Rate for parking.sg App

The Parking.sg app has been used by more than 550,000 unique vehicles, representing over 60% of cars, with over 15 million parking sessions initiated since its launch in October 2017.
Coupon usage has declined significantly, from 180,000 booklets monthly at launch to about 50,000 booklets in December 2018, while app sessions have tripled from 300,000 to over 1.1 million per month.
Currently, payments via the app are limited to credit and debit cards, but the team is reviewing user feedback for potential improvements, including exploring other payment platforms like PayNow.
Government agencies are promoting the app through flyers at motorist-frequented locations and social media advertising to increase awareness and adoption.

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