Digital & technology — Topics

11 Feb 2019

Preventing a Future Incident where GCE Examination Scripts are Lost or Damaged

Multiple MPs raised concerns about the risks of losing or damaging GCE exam scripts during overseas shipment and marking, proposing solutions such as local marking, electronic marking, or e-exams.
The Minister for Education explained that while local marking is possible, it would require substantial resources and could strain teachers during vacation periods, so collaboration with Cambridge Assessment continues due to their expertise and efficiency.
The ministry is already transitioning to on-screen marking, with 65% of scripts marked electronically and plans to cover almost all by end of year, though some subjects like science practicals are unsuitable for this method.
E-exams are being piloted for certain subjects, but full implementation requires careful consideration of student readiness, equity, and alignment with teaching methods, as new digital risks may emerge.
Immediate measures, such as stricter protocols for handlers and excluding repeat offenders, have been reinforced after recent incidents, while longer-term educational reforms like portfolios are considered to balance summative assessments.

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15 Jan 2019

Culture Pass for Events to Encourage Cultural Discovery

Mr Terence Ho proposed a "culture pass" mobile app offering credits for students and seniors to attend cultural events, similar to the ActiveSG scheme, to promote cultural discovery.
The Ministry acknowledged the importance of culture in Singapore and highlighted existing initiatives like free admission to museums, annual festivals, and community-based arts and heritage programs that have increased public engagement.
The Ministry, along with the National Arts Council and National Heritage Board, committed to considering the "culture pass" suggestion as part of ongoing plans to expand audience reach and leverage technology.

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15 Jan 2019

Review of Electronic Game Loot Boxes as Form of Gambling

Minister Shanmugam explained that loot boxes are virtual items purchased with real money or in-game credits, yielding random prizes like weapons, making them a game of chance.
Under the Remote Gambling Act, loot boxes are considered gambling only if there are facilities to convert in-game items or credits to real-world money or merchandise.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is actively studying various aspects of whether loot boxes should be regulated as a form of gambling.

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15 Jan 2019

Identifying and Automatically Blocking Scam Phone Calls

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked the Ministry for Communications and Information about studying and directing telecom providers to deploy technologies that automatically identify and block scam calls and text messages promoting illegal activities.
IMDA is exploring the feasibility of such technological solutions, including those used in other jurisdictions like verifying legitimate calling numbers, but notes that these technologies are still nascent and their effectiveness is unproven.
The government is collaborating with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Singapore Police to tighten prepaid SIM card regulations to prevent misuse by criminal syndicates.
Telecom providers are assisting police in addressing scam calls and texts, while the public is encouraged to report spam numbers and educate loved ones to avoid falling victim to scams.

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15 Jan 2019

Government's Response to the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Cyberattack on SingHealth's IT System

The Government accepted all findings and recommendations from the Committee of Inquiry into the SingHealth cyberattack, which exposed personal data of 1.5 million patients and highlighted staff, process, and technical shortcomings, committing to strengthen cybersecurity across public sector systems through a multi-layered defence strategy and enhanced governance, training, and technology measures.
The Ministry of Health announced organizational reforms in the public healthcare sector, including separating cybersecurity and operational roles, establishing a three-lines-of-defence model, and piloting a "Virtual Browser" solution to balance internet access for patient care with security, while deferring mandatory contributions to the National Electronic Health Record until cybersecurity reviews are complete.
Disciplinary actions were taken, including terminations and financial penalties for individuals and organizations involved, with the Personal Data Protection Commission imposing a record S$1 million penalty on IHiS and SingHealth, while the Government emphasized ongoing vigilance, international cooperation, and public cyber hygiene to counter evolving threats.

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14 Jan 2019

Illegal Access to Health Promotion Board's HealthHub Accounts in September and October 2018

HPB investigated unusually high login attempts to HealthHub in late September and early October 2018, involving over 27,000 email addresses, which were mostly unrelated to actual HealthHub accounts, though 72 accounts were successfully accessed.
The incidents were limited to the basic tier of HealthHub, which contained user profiles and Healthpoints, and did not affect services requiring SingPass or two-factor authentication, with no evidence of a system breach.
As a precaution, HPB suspended e-services, locked the affected accounts, contacted users, and advised them to reset passwords, with no adverse impact confirmed on the accounts.
HPB introduced additional security measures, including authentication against automated attacks and OTP for Healthpoints redemption, and has not detected further incidents since the events.
Officials assured ongoing efforts to strengthen systems for better protection, monitoring, and response to cyber threats, while reminding users to use strong, unique passwords.

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14 Jan 2019

Assistance for Singaporeans with No Access to or Unable to Make Online Applications for NRICs or Passports

The Minister for Home Affairs outlined measures to assist Singaporeans without internet access or unable to apply online for NRICs or passports, including applications by family or friends and assistance at self-service kiosks with ICA ambassadors.
Special arrangements are available for those unable to visit ICA, such as home visits for medical reasons like bedridden individuals needing NRIC re-registration.
These measures will remain in place beyond 2020, when ICA aims to transition to fully online applications.

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14 Jan 2019

Initiatives with Companies such as Facebook for "Suicide Watch" Intervention Programmes

Desmond Choo inquired about the Ministry's potential collaboration with social media companies, such as Facebook, to assist residents in distress and develop "suicide watch" intervention programs.
Desmond Lee highlighted Singapore's multi-pronged approach, combining in-person and online efforts like community drop-in centres, public education campaigns, and safe online spaces for support.
The Ministry noted concerns about the effectiveness, data privacy, and civil liberties implications of automated "suicide watch" systems and plans to continue reviewing enhancements in suicide prevention.

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14 Jan 2019

Payment Services Bill

The Payment Services Bill consolidates two existing acts into a single, forward-looking framework for regulating payment services in Singapore, adopting a modular and risk-based approach that includes a licensing regime with three classes of institutions to cater to different service scales and types.
Key provisions include enhancing consumer and system protections by safeguarding customer monies, imposing anti-money laundering requirements on digital payment token services, and granting MAS powers to ensure interoperability of payment systems to reduce fragmentation.
Members of Parliament raised concerns and sought clarifications on issues such as the regulation of cryptocurrency services, the adequacy of e-wallet caps, financial inclusion for migrant workers, and the balance between innovation and risk, with the Minister affirming the Bill's balanced approach and ongoing industry consultations.

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14 Jan 2019

Measures to Protect Personal Data of Facebook Users in Singapore

The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) 2012 requires organizations like Facebook to obtain consent, notify users of data use, and implement reasonable security measures to protect personal data in Singapore.
The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) monitors data breaches, coordinates with international counterparts, and can take enforcement actions if PDPA is breached, as demonstrated by its response to Facebook’s 2018 security vulnerability.
PDPC contacted Facebook to confirm if Singapore users were affected, ensured affected users were notified, and continues to monitor the situation and related developments for further action if needed.
Users are encouraged to utilize platform security features, adjust privacy settings, and be cautious about sharing personal data online to minimize risks from potential breaches.

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20 Nov 2018

Proposal to Mark Examination Scripts Electronically

Miss Cheng Li Hui raised concerns about whether time saved from not counting physical scripts would be offset by the need to scan and digitise them, and asked about the risks and management of an electronic marking system.
Ong Ye Kung reported that SEAB's pilot trial on electronic marking received positive feedback from markers for improved administrative efficiency and noted benefits seen in the UK and Hong Kong, such as reduced physical movement of scripts and better marking quality.
He acknowledged that changes to examination processes require careful planning, including trials, IT infrastructure investment, marker training, and ensuring the integrity and timely release of examination results.

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20 Nov 2018

Telecommunication Outages in Past Three Years

Joan Pereira inquired about the number of telecommunication outages in the past three years and the measures to prevent them.
S Iswaran stated that telecommunication outages have averaged 10 per year since 2016, mainly due to cable cuts by contractors or network faults.
The Ministry and IMDA work with operators to ensure service quality through audits, contractor education, and penalties for non-compliance or slow service restoration.
IMDA requires operators to audit networks regularly to align with international best practices and penalises those contributing to outages.

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20 Nov 2018

Key Performance Indicators for Scheme to Help Hospitals Scale Up Adoption of Smart Technologies

The $62.5 million Smart Nursing Ward programme was launched in 2018 to reduce nurses' administrative workload by adopting smart technologies like robots and RFID.
Key performance indicators include achieving at least 10% nursing time-savings, but it is too early to assess progress as many projects are just starting.
Examples of technologies being explored include Autonomous Mobile Robots for deliveries and monitoring, which have shown potential time savings in pilots.

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20 Nov 2018

Online Falsehoods in Recent News Reports Alleging Singapore's Involvement in 1MDB Deals

The Ministry of Law rebutted false online reports alleging Singapore's involvement in 1MDB money laundering, detailing Singapore's extensive investigations, penalties on banks, asset seizures, and cooperation with Malaysia.
The government took action against the false article by filing a police report, requesting its removal, and blocking the website, while criticizing Facebook for not removing the post despite its falsity and public interest concerns.
Officials emphasized the need for legislative powers to combat deliberate online falsehoods, as social media platforms like Facebook have been ineffective in curbing such content.

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19 Nov 2018

Plan to Institute a National Volunteer Registry to Provide Big Data for Analysis and Use Across Ministries

Ms Anthea Ong proposed a national volunteer registry to provide big data for analysis across ministries and a personal volunteer portfolio for citizens.
The government supports using big data to grow volunteerism and improve the volunteering experience, with ongoing efforts to enhance digital infrastructure and data sharing with volunteer consent.
The SG Cares mobile app has been launched as a first step towards a personalised digital assistant for volunteering, with plans to continue improving it based on feedback.

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19 Nov 2018

Replacement of Analogue TV Signal Systems with Digital TV Starter Kit and Extension of Its Redemption Programme

The government confirmed that HDB households not subscribing to Pay TV are eligible for the Digital TV Starter Kit, and those terminating Pay TV before the 2019 analogue signal switch-off also qualify.
Private estate households facing financial difficulties can appeal to IMDA for the Digital TV Starter Kit, though the programme is not automatically extended to all households.
Managing agents for public areas like senior citizen corners can purchase Digital TV equipment from major retailers and Mediacorp's partners, but IMDA does not directly provide replacement services at these locations.

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19 Nov 2018

Sign-ups as Dementia Friends through Dementia Friends Mobile App

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked about the number of sign-ups through the Dementia Friends mobile app and whether the app is suitable for use by the wider public without specific training.
As of end-October 2018, over 2,000 people have signed up as Dementia Friends through the app, which was launched in October 2018 under the Dementia-Friendly Singapore initiative.
The app is designed for both caregivers and the general public to access information on dementia, support services, and events, and to help locate lost persons with dementia through community alerts.
Caregivers can activate a network of Dementia Friends via the app when a person with dementia is lost, and nearby users can assist in bringing them to designated Go-to Points for reunification.
The government encourages all members of the public to download the app, sign up as Dementia Friends, and share it with others, regardless of specific training.

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19 Nov 2018

Regulations on E-money Float and Electronic Payments

Singapore’s e-money regulations will be updated under the new Payment Services Bill, lowering the safeguarding threshold from S$30 million to S$5 million and expanding protected e-money to include e-wallets used for person-to-person and merchant payments.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has introduced the E-Payments User Protection Guidelines to clarify consumer and institution responsibilities, liability for unauthorized transactions, and error resolution processes, with the guidelines taking effect in January.
MAS will provide more safeguarding options for payment institutions, such as using guarantees from prescribed financial institutions or segregating customer funds, to balance consumer protection with industry innovation and competitiveness.

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19 Nov 2018

Regulation of Sale and Use of Hidden Cameras to Reduce Incidence of Outrage of Modesty or Violation of Privacy

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong raised the need to regulate the sale and use of spy or hidden cameras to reduce cases of outrage of modesty and privacy violations.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that current laws impose imprisonment, fines, or both for such offences, and the Penal Code Review Committee recommended stronger penalties including caning.
The government plans to amend the Penal Code early next year to introduce new offences and higher punishments, but banning cameras outright is deemed unworkable due to their prevalence in devices like mobile phones.

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19 Nov 2018

Policies and Guidelines for Handling Sensitive Health Data of Patients in Public and Private Sectors

Prof Fatimah Lateef inquired about the existence of overarching policies and audits for handling sensitive health data in both public and private healthcare sectors.
The Ministry of Health requires healthcare entities to comply with the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act and the Personal Data Protection Act, which mandate safeguards for medical records and personal data.
Additional protections are applied to sensitive medical conditions through legislation and technical controls, based on advisory guidelines.
The Ministry conducts regular inspections and audits to ensure compliance, with penalties for non-compliance under relevant laws.

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