Josephine Teo
Singapore
“The Government's risk-calibrated approach to data security in artificial intelligence (AI) systems was explained in a written reply, given on 9 January 2024, to related questions asked by Dr Tan Wu Meng and Mr Gerald Giam.”
“Access to frontier models is helpful for specific use cases, such as advanced research and cybersecurity. However, these form a small proportion of artificial intelligence (AI) demand. For most industry, Government and research uses, capable models are already available.”
“The Government tracks the development of technical standards for identifying artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, including watermarking and digital provenance approaches, as part of broader efforts to manage AI-related risks.”
“Upon receiving a valid report of intimate image abuse, the Commissioner of Online Safety is empowered by law to direct Online Service Providers (OSPs) to disable access by Singapore users to the specified harmful online material. This direction may be extended to cover identical copies found on the platform.”
“The Government is committed to keeping children safe online. We have announced plans to extend age assurance requirements to designated social media services, including requiring platforms to keep users under 13 off their services.”
“Under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025, the Commissioner of Online Safety is empowered to issue directions to platforms to remove specified harmful content, including intimate image abuse.”
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“Mr Speaker, I thank Mr Liang for his questions. If I could, perhaps, take a bit of time to just share with the Member and other colleagues an overview of the Seniors Go Digital programme curriculum. It is broken up into several modules. The first module is on connectivity and communication. And the applications are, for example, on smartphone features like how to use Wireless@SG, how to use WhatsApp, how to use Zoom. Then, there is another module specifically on access to Government Digital Services, TraceTogether, Singpass mobile. And yet another module on entertainment, MeLISTEN, MeWATCH and using NLB's Libby app. So, there is quite a range of things. In particular, there are several other features that would be of particular use to our seniors. For example, in the health module, the seniors are guided on how to use HealthHub and how to use Healthy 365. So, it is quite structured. But again, it all depends on the seniors' comfort level and what they find to be useful. I should just add that, inherent in Mr Liang's question is also a tension. There is a tension in wanting to help the seniors become more familiar with a range of digital applications and so nudging them in that direction to use digital services, as a motivation for them to learn about the tools and how to go digital. And on the other hand, recognising that some of these seniors will find this a very difficult task and they might actually feel very anxious. So, between the two, we have to find the right balance and try to move things forward. Our overall approach is to make the options available and to still make the non-digital avenues open. They may not be as convenient as the digital avenues, but it does not mean that seniors do not have the non-digital options available to them.”
“Crowding in the partners is equally important, because it is also a question of building trust with the seniors, so that they are receptive to what is being shared with them.”
“Mr Speaker, we hope to avoid the tiers because it is very painful. But to your question, is there a target number? I would say the more the better. I think we are also very cognisant of the fact that seniors tend to take a longer time to become familiar with the digital domain and they would want to gain confidence a step at a time. So, we would not want to rush the seniors. We also do not want the seniors to feel that the only way they can have a meaningful life is to engage digitally. There are other things that are meaningful, but adding the digital dimension can help them to keep in touch with their friends through new means; to plug into opportunities for recreation, for understanding the world and to engage with society in a way that they could not have done so before. But it is important to note that we should let them take it at their own pace. Right now, we have organised some of the programmes according to tiers. Individuals can decide. I should also add that, in fact, once they gain confidence in going digital, some of the seniors are very savvy. They are so good that they can teach their friends how to become more effective. And then the question becomes: how are they able to learn new knowledge to teach their friends? In fact, through online resources, they are already able to become even more competent. So, that would be the approach that we take. It is also not just the programmes that matter. I think there are many touch points that seniors can come into contact with, and we do not want to assume that it is only the Government who can provide programmes that will work and be effective.”
“", which builds awareness and vigilance amongst the general public on the tell-tale signs of scams. NCPC's Volunteer Crime Prevention Ambassadors also engage residents, including seniors, to share crime prevention tips. Complementing the Government's programmes, the Digital for Life (DfL) movement was launched in 2021 to galvanise the support of people, private and public (3P) sectors on ground-up initiatives to help Singaporeans gain confidence in going digital. For example, at the Majestic Smart Seniors Applied Centre, managed by RSVP Singapore, seniors learn to identify and avoid scams, and protect their digital identity through curated modules and webinars conducted in partnership with Google. The Government continuously reviews its anti-scam programmes and efforts to ensure they are updated and relevant. We will also continue to work with the community and industry to engage seniors, to help them stay safe and secure online.”
“Thank you. The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) understands that going digital can be a daunting experience. This is one reason we established the SG Digital Office (SDO) in June 2020, to better support people who need help, such as seniors, hawkers and heartland merchants, with basic digital tools and skills. Under the Seniors Go Digital (SGD) programme, SDO's Digital Ambassadors (DAs) have engaged and trained over 190,000 seniors to date. The programme focuses on training and enabling seniors to use digital tools for their daily lives. These include using a smartphone to access Government services like Singpass and health services, and to communicate and transact online. The efforts have produced encouraging results. In a 2021 survey with seniors conducted one month after their engagement with the SDO, about nine in 10 seniors said they continued to apply the digital skills they learnt in their daily lives. Targeted programmes have also been implemented to strengthen seniors' ability to manage cyber threats. For instance, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) has a SG Cyber Safe Seniors Programme that raises awareness and drives adoption of cyber hygiene practices amongst seniors, and has engaged more than 45,000 seniors since its launch. The programmes I mentioned are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure their relevance. With online scams being a growing threat, a range of topics and tips for seniors to guard against online scams have been included. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) and National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) have also rolled out broad-based and targeted public education efforts. These include the annual anti-scam public education campaign, "Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes.”
“Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 7 and 8 together, please?”
“The most recent edition of Book Bugs, which also sought to encourage reading in Mother Tongue, had over 74,000 participants. Third, NLB builds strong partnerships to ensure sustained support for a child's reading habits. Together with schools, volunteers and self-help groups, NLB promotes reading to young children and teens. kidsREAD is a nationwide reading programme that engages children from less privileged families. With the support of partner organisations, more than 170 kidsREAD clubs have been set up in community spaces and schools to engage participants in weekly story-related activities. In addition, NLB has an extensive collection of e-books, e-newspapers, e-magazines and audiobooks that Singaporeans can seamlessly access from the comfort of their own homes or when they are on the move, through the NLB Mobile and Libby apps. NLB also recently launched LAB25 (Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025) to meet the evolving reading and learning needs of Singaporeans. By reimagining our libraries and archives, NLB seeks to make our libraries and collections easily accessible for all Singaporeans and inspire more lifelong readers and learners. To encourage more citizens to discover NLB's rich resources, NLB nodes were rolled out at shopping malls, food and beverage spaces, and workplaces starting from October 2021. These nodes feature interactive installations and immersive wallpapers that serve as entry points to NLB's digital collections. New deployments of nodes are also being planned for other public spaces such as parks.”
“Singaporeans are served by an extensive network of 29 physical libraries (including the National Library, public and partner libraries) conveniently located across the island. Besides the new Punggol Regional Library slated for opening in 2023, there are currently no plans for more regional libraries. Instead, the National Library Board (NLB) actively supports communities that are keen to set up and run their own reading corners through providing a seed collection. NLB has consistently prioritised efforts to nurture a love of reading in children. Based on NLB's annual Reach Survey, more than 85% of children aged seven to 12 years benefited from NLB's services, such as accessing NLB's books and e-resources or attending programmes in the past 12 months. To cultivate the love for reading among the young, NLB employs a three-pronged approach. First, NLB has carefully curated collections and services targeted at different age groups. In 2016, NLB introduced the Babies Can Be Members Too! programme with library membership and curated materials for children aged 0 to two years. From 2019 to 2021, more than 96% of each birth cohort on the LifeSG app have been signed up as library members through this programme. This is complemented by the A Book A Day reading programme, which encourages parents (with children aged six years and below) to read daily to their children. Second, NLB encourages reading among children through gamification campaigns, such as Book Bugs, which allows children to redeem collectible cards using points earned by borrowing books. Currently in its fourth iteration, Book Bugs encourages children to read, learn and play together, supported by a host of reading activities available in the public libraries and online.”
“The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) takes a serious view of fibre broadband service disruptions that have occurred due to construction activity. In 2019, IMDA introduced the Cable Cut Preventive Measures and Earthworks Requirements to minimise the risk of cable cuts due to construction activity and earthworks. The number of cable cut incidents causing broadband service disruptions since 2019 is in Table 1. During this period, an average of 570 end-user connections, comprising both residential end-users and commercial entities, were affected by each cable cut incident. Under the Telecommunications Act 1999, IMDA may impose composition fines for minor cable cut cases, or prosecute errant contractors in Court for failing to comply with the earthworks requirements and for causing damage to telecommunications cables in the course of carrying out earthworks. The contractors shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding $1 million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both. Since 2019, more than $1.13 million in composition sums and court fines have been meted out to errant contractors found to have damaged telecommunication cables due to the conduct of earthworks. IMDA also conducts regular dialogues with contractors and disseminates content to educate workers on the earthworks requirements and the precautionary measures needed to prevent cable damage.”
“Under the proposed Code of Practice for Online Safety, designated social media services with significant reach or impact in Singapore will be required to protect Singapore users of social media services from harmful online content that may affect their physical and mental well-being. This includes content relating to suicide and self-harm. Social media services must provide easily accessible online safety information on the service, which should include information on Singapore-based safety resources or support centres and be easy to understand. If users, including young users, use high-risk search terms such as terms relating to self-harm and suicide on the service, the designated social media services will be expected to actively offer to them relevant safety information, including local suicide prevention hotlines. A whole-of-society approach is necessary to prevent suicide in Singapore. There are several initiatives and strategies across several agencies. The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) will also continue to partner the community and industry in this effort to keep our online spaces safe for users who are at-risk.”
“In addition, as part of SG Digital Office (SDO)’s Seniors Go Digital programme, seniors are taught about cybersecurity risks and tips on how to keep themselves safe online. This includes advising them on the cyber hygiene practices I mentioned earlier. We can all play our part to improve cybersecurity by being vigilant, practising good cyber hygiene and encouraging our family and friends to do the same. This would go a long way in addressing evolving cyber threats, including the emergence of zero-day vulnerabilities, such as those recently found in Apple’s products. The Government will continue to engage and support groups which need help, to empower them to stay safe and secure online.”
“The Member is referring to Apple’s announcement on 17 August 2022 regarding two security vulnerabilities in iPhones, iPads and Macs which, if left unaddressed, could allow attackers to take control of any affected Apple device. These were zero-day vulnerabilities, meaning that they were unknown to the vendors when discovered. Apple advised that it was possible that these vulnerabilities may have already been actively exploited by threat actors and had since released emergency security updates for users to install. The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) has issued advisories to users in Singapore to immediately patch their products to the latest iOS versions. To date, the Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (SingCERT) and the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) have not received notifications of cybersecurity incidents or compromises of personal data associated with these security vulnerabilities. The agencies will continue to monitor the situation and will investigate any reported breaches accordingly. These measures cannot replace good cyber hygiene practices by each of us. Such practices include using strong passwords, being wary of phishing links, and using anti-virus software. It is also important to install software updates on electronic devices promptly, manually or by enabling automatic software updates. For groups that might be less tech savvy, such as our seniors, the Government has introduced several targeted programmes. CSA launched the SG Cyber Safe Seniors Programme in 2021, to raise awareness and drive adoption of cyber hygiene practices amongst seniors. More than 45,000 seniors have been engaged through pop-up events, webinars and programmes at SG Digital Community Hubs.”
“In addition, we also encourage parents to take an active role in engaging and guiding the activities of their children, helping them cultivate healthy habits and personal responsibility.”
“Through the national Digital for Life (DfL) movement, we have worked with community partners to introduce programmes that enhance the overall digital well-being of children and youths. The Media Literacy Council (MLC) has also developed resources encouraging online users to exercise judgement on their consumption of online content and supported community projects such as Project Get Flamed!, which ran workshops for youths addressing online gaming addictions. These efforts can help reduce the risks of our youths being exposed to online harms, but they do not eliminate them completely. Emergent digital technologies including the metaverse and Web 3.0, could also introduce new types of online risks by being more interactive, providing more immersive experiences or allowing for even greater anonymity. The risks may be compounded because activities are carried out in a decentralised way with no clear entity to be regulated. Continued vigilance by the Government as well as parents, teachers, and youths themselves remain important. As the Member noted, the Government will be introducing measures to enhance online safety, especially for young users. The proposed Code of Practice for Online Safety seeks to require social media services which have significant reach or impact to put in place systems and processes to mitigate exposure to harmful content for Singapore-based users. Gaming platforms are not the intended targets of regulations at present. Nonetheless, we understand the concerns and have initiated a study to better understand the impact of gaming. We will also monitor emergent technologies such as the metaverse and Web 3.0, and update our measures where necessary.”
“In Singapore today, 99% of households with children under the age of 15 have access to computers. It is not surprising therefore that many youths have easy access to the internet and online gaming. As a result, they are also exposed to online risks, including cyberbullying, sexual harassment, sexual grooming or other inappropriate content. Parents are understandably concerned about the ease and speed with which harmful online content can be disseminated, and the risk this poses to their children. The Government has put in place various measures to reduce the risks of online harms affecting our youths. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) requires Internet Service Providers to offer optional residential and mobile Internet filtering services. This helps parents ensure that children have safer access to the Internet. Public education is especially critical for encouraging healthy gaming habits amongst youths and helping parents guide their children in navigating the online space. The Government undertakes public education programmes and works with various community partners to enhance digital safety for our youths. In schools, MOE’s refreshed Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) curriculum teaches students the dangers of excessive online activities, including gaming, and other addictive behaviours. Beyond schools, the National Library Board’s (NLB) Source, Understand, Research and Evaluate (S.U.R.E) programme provides useful guidelines on safe and responsible online gaming and the Health Promotion Board’s MindSG online portal provides content that helps Singaporeans manage their mental health with a dedicated section on cyber wellness for teens.”
“Lastly, our cybersecurity rests heavily on the talent we have in Singapore. CSA works with schools, Institutes of Higher Learning and industry to attract, train and develop cybersecurity talents. Over the five years from 2016 to 2020, the number of cybersecurity professionals in Singapore has increased threefold to more than 10,700.”
“The hon Member may be referring to a recent article in The Straits Times entitled "S'pore organisations among the most targeted in the world by ransomware attacks, study finds". The headline is inaccurate. The report does not claim that Singapore enterprises are amongst the most targeted by ransomware actors in the world, nor was evidence presented to back up such a claim. Singapore's cyber landscape mirrors that of the global cyber landscape. In recent years, there has been an increase in cyber threats, such as ransomware, across the world and in Singapore. Recently, more digitalised and connected enterprises, such as MNCs, are based in Singapore. Local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have also embraced digital technology to improve their productivity. These have led to a larger attack surface for cyber attacks. A strong cybersecurity posture is essential. The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) seeks to improve the cybersecurity posture of enterprises in Singapore through raising awareness, enabling adoption of cybersecurity solutions, recognising enterprises with good cybersecurity practices and developing cybersecurity professionals. As SMEs tend to have limited IT and/or cybersecurity expertise and resources, CSA and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) offer SMEs pre-approved solutions under SME's Go Digital Programme. More than 6,000 SMEs have benefitted from these cybersecurity solutions that provide endpoint protection, managed detection and response and unified threat management. In March this year, CSA rolled out the Cyber Essentials Mark to recognise SMEs that have implemented cyber hygiene measures, and the Cyber Trust Mark to recognise enterprises with comprehensive cybersecurity measures and practices.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth of e-sports globally, with its worldwide audience expected to grow 8.7% year on year, crossing 500 million in 2022. Southeast Asia is a key growth market for e-sports. Singapore recently hosted e-sports tournaments such as Garena's Free Fire World Series, which saw record viewership across multiple online platforms. As digital experiences expand in breadth and scope, e-sports will likely grow in popularity. E-sports is part of a vibrant games sector in Singapore, which has created diverse job opportunities over the years. Singapore is home to game developers and publishers, including major game studios like Bandai Namco and homegrown Mighty Bear Games, which in turn create good jobs in content creation, product management, UI/UX design, and business development. IMDA's Annual Survey on Infocomm Media Manpower provides an indicative sense of manpower demand based on companies' expectations of growth. This could be influenced by business sentiments and market conditions, among other factors. The 2,700 figure is thus not a target. Actual job creation will also likely differ. In 2021, nearly 2,000 people were employed in the games sector. As is generally the case with the tech sector worldwide, there is still a shortage of skilled talent. The Government will continue to look into ways to support growth in this dynamic space, which includes enabling more jobs for Singaporeans and training them with relevant skills to take on these emerging opportunities.”
“For these reasons, more vendors have sought to be appointed to the PCFA, even if there is no assurance of their eventual selection by any public sector agency. To better support industry promotion, MCI encourages agencies to consider using a wider range of vendors, including by actively sharing with the agencies information of all the vendors, such as their portfolios and contacts. To address the challenge that smaller creative agencies tend to have fewer resources to pitch for projects, the PCFA allows users to pay vendors a fee for their pitching services. With appropriate remuneration for their efforts in submitting proposals, smaller creative agencies would be in a better position to pitch for more projects and, thus, improve their chances of being selected. MCI will continue to refine the PCFA to better achieve its main aim of improving value-for-money in the Government's procurement of creative services. We will monitor the spread of expenditure as well as increase invitations-to-pitch, and where appropriate, make adjustments to better support industry promotion.”
“The whole-of-Government Period Contract and Framework Agreement (PCFA) for Creative Services came into effect in 2018. Its main aim was to streamline the process for public sector agencies to procure creative services and improve value-for-money with better aggregation of demand and economies of scale. Through open tender, potential vendors were evaluated for quality and price. A panel of vendors was then appointed, all but one of them Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Public sector agencies can select any vendor from this panel for their respective projects, depending on which vendor is assessed to best meet their needs. Although the PCFA does not guarantee procurement contracts for any vendor, all vendors on this particular panel have been selected for projects of different size and scope. The resulting distribution of contracts, where some vendors obtained higher percentages of expenditure, reflects the independent assessments of public sector agencies on which vendors best met their needs in terms of quality and price. As MOF has noted in the AGO report, this is not a negative outcome. The public sector agencies had provided positive feedback on the ability of these vendors to perform and deliver the required services. MCI did not observe any irregularity. The promotion of any industry does not depend solely on Government procurement. This applies to the creative services industry as well. As a result of their appointment to the panel, the PCFA has already enabled more vendors to be given serious consideration by public sector agencies. This helps the vendors build client awareness and strengthen their track record over time.”
“The Singapore Police Force (SPF) will take the necessary enforcement actions when they receive complaints from members of public on messages on illegal remote gambling and unlicensed moneylending services. The SPF and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) work with the telecommunication providers (telcos) to block messages related to unlicensed moneylenders and illegal gambling websites by terminating phone numbers linked to such activities. SIM card registration requirements have also been tightened to prevent errant use of prepaid SIM cards by criminal syndicates to disseminate these messages. IMDA and SPF are also working with Internet Service Providers to block websites that promote unlicensed loans and illegal gambling. Where it is possible to track the identities of the perpetrators, SPF will take them to task.”
“To the Member’s question about the difference in pricing for the Premier League Pack, I would like to clarify that it is offered at $64.90 per month via the Pay TV platform and this same price is offered to all Pay TV subscribers, whether through StarHub or Singtel. The Member may be referring instead to the pricing for StarHub’s Premier+ pack, which provides access to the broadcast of the Premier League not through Pay TV set-top boxes but via the Internet, also termed as over-the-top (OTT) platforms. The CCM does not apply to content accessed via OTT platforms, since consumers can more easily access content offered on many OTT platforms, without the need to subscribe to multiple set-top boxes. For the Premier+ pack via OTT, StarHub’s offer of $39.99 per month is not exclusive to its own subscribers. For existing and new subscribers of StarHub’s mobile, broadband or Pay TV services, this pack is available at discounted rates ($19.99 per month for a limited time before 30 June and $24.99 per month thereafter). The offering of volume discounts across multiple services can provide savings to consumers. It is also a common industry practice, not limited to service providers in the telecommunication and media industries.”
“The Cross Carriage Measure (CCM) was implemented by IMDA in 2011 to facilitate competition in the Pay TV market and reduce inconvenience and cost for consumers from having to subscribe to multiple set-top boxes to access content across Pay TV operators. The CCM was subsequently scoped to cover "live" TV programmes acquired on an exclusive basis, to focus on key programmes of consumer interest. Hence, to the Member’s question, if a "live" TV programme is acquired on an exclusive basis, the CCM requires the Pay TV operator to cross-carry the TV programme in its entirety and under non-discriminatory terms, on all other Pay TV operators’ fibre TV platforms. This is to ensure that consumers are able to access the same content on a standalone basis, via one set-top box, regardless of the Pay TV operator they subscribe to. Pay TV operators are not subject to the requirement if the TV programme is not exclusively acquired. As StarHub has acquired the broadcast rights for the Premier League Seasons 2022 to 2028 on an exclusive basis, the CCM applies to StarHub for the Premier League Seasons 2022 to 2028. The CCM requires StarHub to offer the same Pay TV channels and programming that it offers to its own Pay TV subscribers, to Singtel’s Pay TV subscribers through Singtel’s set-top box. StarHub has discretion to decide how many channels to allot to the Premier League broadcasts and is not obligated to carry all 380 matches on a real-time basis. StarHub has to broadcast the non-real-time matches within 48 hours after the matches have ended, on both Singtel’s and StarHub’s Pay TV platforms. IMDA will ensure that their arrangement adheres to the CCM.”
“The use of technology has intensified across all sectors of the economy, most notably in manufacturing and financial services. While there are no clearly defined boundaries, the tech sector, generally, refers to the Information and Communications (I&C) sector. Last year, the I&C sector grew by 12.2%, which far outpaced many sectors. It contributed $28.4 billion to the economy, accounting for 5.6% of Singapore’s GDP. In the corresponding period, the sector also employed about 170,000 workers, which made up about 5% of total employment in Singapore. While the I&C sector continues to be a bright spot for Singapore, we recognise that the macroeconomic environment is becoming increasingly challenging, and the I&C sector is not immune to these economic shocks. We will continue to build on our strong fundamentals and invest in our people to make sure that we remain nimble to seize any opportunities that might arise. We will continue to monitor global developments and work with relevant parties to ensure that our digital economy remains competitive and resilient.”
“MCI and IMDA recognise that Internet connectivity is essential to the public and businesses, and we take service disruptions seriously. Existing standards are already more stringent than suggested by the member. Service outages exceeding one hour with widespread service disruptions are investigated by IMDA. Penalties are meted out to service providers if they are found to be at fault, or had not restored the affected services expeditiously. In the past two years, IMDA has imposed financial penalties ranging from $30,000 to $400,000 for each episode of service disruption lasting over an hour. Besides financial penalties, IMDA has put in place additional measures, such as requiring key telecom service providers to conduct regular audits to ensure network resilience, on par with international best practices. There are also measures to ensure prompt service restoration when disruptions occur.”
“Since April 2021, it has also worked with HDB to conduct engagement sessions during the HDB Rental Flat Selection Exercise. By the end of the year, ComCare applicants who indicate their need for subsidised broadband and devices will no longer need to make separate applications; MSF will link up with IMDA at the back end to enable seamless processing. Given the increasing necessity of digital access, the Government is committed to constantly refine our policies and programmes to meet the needs of the most vulnerable and provide affordable digital access more conveniently. In addition, IMDA regularly enhances its schemes, such as by offering faster broadband speeds and more bundled device options.”
“Based on the Annual Survey on Infocomm Usage in Households in 2021, about 90% of households with monthly household income below $2,000 and with school-going children have access to a computer. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)’s NEU PC Plus and Home Access programmes provide a subsidised device and broadband connectivity to low-income households, including those with school-going children. These are complemented by the Ministry of Education (MOE)'s provisions for students to support Home-Based Learning. For example, under the National Digital Literacy Programme, MOE has provisioned all secondary school students with personal learning devices as at end-2021. From January 2020 to April 2022, the NEU PC Plus and Home Access programmes supported 39,000 low-income households. The annual average number supported over 2020 to 2021 is more than double that of the preceding two years. Almost six out of 10 beneficiaries are pre-qualified households. Besides these programmes, the Mobile Access for Seniors (MAS) programme provides subsidised mobile plans and smartphones to low-income seniors. Since the launch of the MAS in June 2020, more than 9,000 seniors, all pre-qualified, have benefited from the programme. To benefit more needy households, IMDA has been working with the Housing and Development Board (HDB), MOE and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to pre-qualify recipients of various government assistance schemes, such as the HDB Public Rental Scheme (PRS), MOE Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) and MSF ComCare assistance. At the same time, IMDA has been collaborating with social service partners to promote awareness of its schemes and encourage sign-ups among eligible households and seniors.”
“Beyond these efforts, partnerships with other agencies are critical to ensure that seniors receive the support they need. The Tech Connect programme is a collaboration between MCI, IMDA and the People's Association, to provide one-to-one assistance to seniors at 38 community centres (CCs) on the use of digital devices and services. Seniors who require assistance in digital government services can approach the Public Service Division (PSD) ServiceSG Centres, which are 'first stop' integrated government service centres, located at Our Tampines Hub, Kampong Chai Chee CC, Nee Soon Central CC and The Frontier CC. Complementing the Government's initiatives, the Digital for Life (DfL) movement galvanises partners from the people, private and public sectors to help Singaporeans obtain the necessary tools and skills for a digital future. For example, at the Majestic Smart Seniors Applied Centre, managed by RSVP Singapore, seniors can learn how to identify and avoid scams, and protect their digital identity through curated modules and webinars, provided in partnership with Google. Together, these efforts have contributed to building a digitally ready and inclusive society in Singapore.”
“The SG Digital Office (SDO) was established in June 2020 to equip less digitally savvy individuals including seniors, hawkers and heartland merchants, with basic digital tools and skills. SDO's Digital Ambassadors (DAs) have engaged over 130,000 seniors under the Seniors Go Digital (SGD) Programme. The programme takes many forms, depending on the content. Engagements could be one-to-one and/or in small groups at the SG Digital Community Hubs, located island wide. Thematic Learning Journeys and step-by-step guides are available in the four official languages at the Seniors Go Digital website. Seniors are trained to access digital government services, and communicate and transact online. Interested seniors can learn how to use mobile banking services, and pay their medical bills through the HealthHub app. They are also taught about cyber risks and threats and how to keep themselves safe. In a survey conducted in 2021 with seniors one month after their engagement with the SDO, about nine in ten seniors reflected that they continued to apply the digital skills they learnt in their daily lives. The Smart Nation Digital Government Office (SNDGO) also engages citizens on digital government services such as the Singpass app. SNDGO's #SmartNationTogether online platform offers resources for seniors to pick up digital skills. Lower-income seniors who are unable to afford mobile digital access can apply for the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA)'s Mobile Access for Seniors (MAS) scheme, which supports eligible seniors with device and mobile connectivity at subsidised rates. Since its launch in June 2020 to April 2022, more than 9,000 seniors have benefited from the MAS.”
“Last month, MCI announced details of two proposed Codes of Practice to strengthen safety for users of social media services. The first Code of Practice on Online Safety will require designated social media services in Singapore to implement upstream system-wide processes to enhance online safety for their users, particularly the young. Where egregious harmful content remains available despite the social media services’ content moderation systems, a second Content Code for Social Media Services will allow IMDA to direct service providers to disable access to such content for end users in Singapore; this will also apply to social media services not covered by the first Code. Like many governments around the world, Singapore is looking at ways to effectively regulate social media services. As with all forms of regulations, non-compliance must result in enforcement actions. MCI has studied relevant international regulatory models and provisions under existing local laws. We will provide details of the enforcement framework in due course.”
“This includes a cybersecurity certification programme for enterprises – comprising the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust marks – to recognise enterprises that have implemented good cybersecurity practices. CSA also developed cybersecurity toolkits for companies of various profiles to guide enterprise leaders and their employees on cybersecurity best practices. I encourage companies to apply for these cyber marks and take advantage of the resources and toolkits available on CSA’s website. Mr Speaker, cyber threats are constantly evolving. Pipedream will not be the last strain of malware to threaten us. I urge everyone to stay vigilant, take cybersecurity seriously and practice good cyber hygiene.”
“The Cyber Security Agency (CSA) monitors threats to Singapore’s cyberspace closely, especially those that threaten Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) that support essential services. The strain of malware discovered in April, referred to as Pipedream or Incontroller, is designed to target equipment found in industrial control systems, which are core to the proper functioning and control of operational systems and processes. This malware enables the attacker to manipulate and disrupt industrial processes, allowing them to remotely collect information from these systems, shut down operations, sabotage industrial processes, and potentially cause physical harm and destruction. When reports of this malware surfaced in April, CSA issued an advisory to our CII sector leads and owners to take precautions against this threat and make timely incident reports. To date, we have not found any evidence of Pipedream being used against our CII. Beyond CIIs, SingCERT also publishes public advisories on protecting industrial control systems, most recently in March, to advise enterprises on how they may bolster their cybersecurity measures against threats that target these systems. It is important that CII owners and other enterprises remain vigilant against cyber threats and adopt the necessary cybersecurity practices to safeguard the systems and networks. CII owners are required by the Cybersecurity Act to put in place measures to meet cybersecurity standards set by CSA. For enterprises, CSA launched the SG Cyber Safe Programme in 2021 to encourage and help companies strengthen their cybersecurity posture.”
“CSA has also developed cybersecurity toolkits for companies of various profiles to guide enterprise leaders and their employees on cybersecurity best practices. CSA encourages all companies to apply for the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust marks and take advantage of the toolkits and resources available on CSA's SG Cyber Safe website.”
“The Cybersecurity Act requires owners of computers or computer systems designated as Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) to report cybersecurity incidents related to CII to the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA). This enables CSA to monitor and safeguard the cybersecurity of CII, which are crucial to the continuous delivery of essential services. Beyond CII, CSA encourages all companies to report cybersecurity incidents to SingCERT at www.csa.gov.sg/singcert/reporting, even if the affected systems are not designated as CII. Doing so helps to augment CSA's awareness of the latest threats, and allows us to alert other companies to minimise the risk of them falling victim to similar cyberattacks. In 2021, CSA received 1,238 reports of cybersecurity incidents from businesses and other organisations. In the preceding year, CSA received 972 such reports. CII owners are required by the Cybersecurity Act to put in place measures to meet cybersecurity standards set by CSA. This helps to safeguard CII against cyberattacks and ensure their cyber resilience. For non-CII enterprises, in addition to SingCERT's advisories and alerts, CSA launched the SG Cyber Safe Programme in 2021 to encourage and help companies strengthen their cybersecurity posture. As part of this programme, CSA recently rolled out a cybersecurity certification programme for enterprises – comprising the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust marks – to recognise enterprises that have implemented good cybersecurity practices. They are visible indicators for companies to differentiate themselves and demonstrate that they have adopted the necessary cybersecurity measures to protect themselves and their customers.”
“From January 2021 to April 2022, about 5,900 users, or an average of 370 users per month, were de-registered from the TraceTogether programme at their request.”
“Freelancers, or Own Account Workers (OAWs), form a relatively small part of our workforce. The proportion of OAWs in our resident workforce has remained stable at between 8% and 10% over the past five years. In the Information and Communications (I&C) sector, which includes both ICT and media industries, resident OAWs have more than doubled from 4,000 in 2016 to 8,800 in 2021, or 7.3% of all employed residents in the sector. Technology has enabled greater flexibilities for working. With changing aspirations of our workforce and business models of media companies, freelancing may be increasingly attractive as a preferred arrangement. There is no established way to project the growth, but we will continue to monitor the trends. We will also continue to support freelancers in maintaining their skills relevance.”
“The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) are closely partnering the local telecommunication providers (telcos) to block suspicious calls. In 2021, the telcos blocked an average of 15 million incoming overseas calls each month, including spoofed numbers resembling those of local Government agencies and emergency services. Telcos have also added the "+" prefix for all incoming overseas calls since April 2020 to alert users to overseas calls, especially as scammers continue to spoof local calls using the "65" prefix. Although there are a small number of telcos internationally that allow consumers to block overseas calls as part of their commercial service offerings, we are not aware of any regulator that requires telcos to do so. IMDA is, currently,f in discussion with the telcos on the feasibility and implications of providing consumers with the option to block overseas calls. A decision will be taken after the review.”
“But the majority of the feedback came from Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, whose views are, naturally, the main focus of REACH and Government agencies. Surveys based on representative samples that the Government commissions are, of course, restricted to the resident population. REACH has received feedback about this LP and acknowledges that it should be more careful when conducting LPs on issues where people hold sharply opposed and passionate views. REACH will learn from this experience to better engage Singaporeans on contentious topics in the future.”
“REACH gathers feedback via multiple channels and from different segments of the community, so that all voices can be heard. Views collected by REACH are shared with relevant Government agencies. The channels employed by REACH include email, social media platforms, WhatsApp chatgroups and dialogues. One modality used by REACH is Listening Points (LPs) – typically conducted in person or, since the start of the pandemic, via online surveys. They solicit views from specific groups with questions designed accordingly. The findings from targeted LPs are, therefore, not taken as representative of the entire population. For more holistic understanding, they are complemented by other sources of feedback. Members Mr Alex Yam and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim referred to an LP to solicit views from the LGBTQ+ community. Similar LPs have been conducted to hear views from communities, such as rental flat dwellers, pre-release offenders, and gig economy workers. We have also previously partnered other communities including religious organisations, women and youth groups, to seek feedback on particular issues from their respective constituents. Consistent with the approach taken for such targeted LPs, the LGBTQ+ LP was conducted online and the link was disseminated through LGBTQ+ groups. However, unlike in previous online LPs, the link was circulated beyond the intended audience, which led to a large number of responses within a short time frame. REACH received more than 36,000 responses within a day or so for this LP; for comparison, other LPs that REACH conducts, typically, gather about 200 to 700 responses. As the LP platform is open to all, respondents can be from any nationality.”
“Years later, when we look back, this must be a moment to celebrate, because we leaned forward to achieve greater progress for Singapore women, we put our values into action once again and jointly ushered in a new dawn, leading to a fairer and more inclusive society, where more women partner men as equals, fulfil more of our aspirations freely and fully! Mr Speaker, I beg to move. [Applause.] [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, (proc text)] [(proc text) "That this House endorses Paper Cmd 15 of 2022 on 'White Paper on Singapore Women’s Development' as our Whole-of-Nation plan of action to collectively advance Singapore women’s development to build a fairer and more inclusive society, where men and women partnering each other as equals can pursue their aspirations freely and to the fullest." (proc text)]”
“My reliable helper of 23 years whom I always introduced as "the children's real mother", won her 10-year fight against breast cancer and is still with us. Khoo Seok Lin, Director of Planning in EDB in the 1990s, who stuck her neck out to recommend a scholarship for me because she believed there was room in the organisation for both me and the only other scholarship recipient that year – a man. Shirley Chen and Anna Chan who, as my bosses, showed how women can assert our views with conviction and grace. My personal assistants (PAs) and security officers at different times – Patricia, Alice, Wendy, Chris, Jeya, Alicia, Eunice, Iris, Jocelyn, Silver and Charlene. I am so blessed to have them in my life because they make every day better for me. My best friends forever since childhood, my newfound sisters in the Labour Movement and PAP Women's Wing, with whom I share laughter and tears. Sir, at its core, the White Paper is about enabling all the women around us to be the best that they can be so that we, in turn, empower one another as role models, as teachers and mentors, as advocates and champions, as helpers and supporters. Years later, when we look back, it is the fact of so many more stories to tell, so many more women to honour, that we know today's efforts have borne fruit. Years later, when we look back, it is the fact of so many more collective actions, so many more ground-up initiatives, that we see the power of alignment in hearts and minds towards the common cause of women's development.”
“At its core, the White Paper seeks to build a fairer and more inclusive society where Singapore women, partnering men as equals, with mutual respect, can pursue and fulfil their aspirations freely and fully. (In English): Sir, at the start of the debate, I described my own struggles as a working woman, highlighting the men who were my staunchest allies: my husband, my father, father in-law, my brothers, my bosses and my colleagues. Equally, many women in my life have been instrumental. My popo, a widow from the time she was in her late 30s, began to educate me well before I started school. Riding on a little trishaw in Joo Chiat to visit her former midwife and her relatives, popo pointed to all the signboards on the shops that we passed to teach me to recognise Chinese characters. Thanks to popo's spirit of adventure, I served as her English-speaking travel guide on trips abroad and cultivated my own curiosity about the world. I remember filling all the immigration forms. That is how you learn English. Not too bad a way. My mother, a former Police officer, held court at work and at home. She is not one to easily take no for an answer nor will she ever retreat to helplessness in any situation. Because of mom, I learnt how to juggle my studies, my passion for basketball as well as preparing meals daily for my younger brothers. My mother-in-law, who had raised seven children on a shoe string and cared for half a dozen more grandchildren, graciously helped with our late additions when they arrived. Without her support in those critical first years, I would easily have given up. My twin daughters, whose wide-eyed wonder and joyful encouragement, inspired mommy to finally get a driver's licence.”
“They move our hearts and spur us to action so that supporting women is a "want to do" rather than "have to do". At its core, respect means that women should not be exploited. Women should not be sidelined. Women should not be stereotyped. Rather, women deserve to be recognised for their contributions. Women deserve to be empowered to succeed. Women deserve to be respected as equal partners in society. These core values of equality, partnership and mutual respect must endure with every step we take in advancing women's interests. It is now up to us to put our values once again into action. Sir, I would like to bring this debate to a close by returning to its core significance. More than anything else, this White Paper is about honouring Singapore women, recognising their place in society and committing to achieve further progress for women. Let me explain why in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Over the past decades, Singapore women have achieved exceptional progress in various fields. This White Paper is, therefore, about honouring Singapore women and recognising their place in society. We honour them for fighting the battles to be seen and heard, recognised and valued. We honour them for their unyielding spirit that has led to many triumphs over adversity. We honour them for their unwavering commitment to blazing a trail and paving the way for other women to succeed. The value of the White Paper goes beyond legislative and policy changes. Through a whole-of-nation plan of action, it aims to achieve further progress for Singapore women by putting the values we hold dear into action.”
“Confucius had a famous saying, "女子无才便是德", meaning the lack of talent in a woman is a virtue. It is clear from this debate that here, in modern-day Singapore, we firmly reject such narrow-mindedness towards women. Instead, we reaffirm the value of equality between women and men. No one is left in doubt that Singapore women should have equal opportunities to pursue their aspirations as much as men. The tone of this debate has also upheld the value of partnership. Women should be regarded as equal partners of men not only at work but also at home. We believe that more for girls and women does not mean less for boys and men. Workplace fairness, FWAs and caregiver support benefit women as well as men. We aim to ensure that advances for one do not diminish the other. Instead, it strengthens boys and men when our mothers, sisters, wives and daughters are uplifted. In a true partnership, both gain from each other's growth. This is the only sustainable way forward. In the same way, the partnership between the Government and the community at large has helped to bring about positive change for Singapore women. A third and essential value underpinning equality and partnership is that of mutual respect between men and women. As a society, we should respect women's place in it and honour their contributions. Equally, we respect men's choice and ability to support women in their capacities as fathers, husbands, brothers, bosses, colleagues and friends. Mutual respect shapes our attitudes and beliefs about women and men. They reach the corners of our minds that laws, regulations, guidelines and practices will never fully reach. They determine the culture and norms within which we all live.”
“Sir, this makes me a little puzzled to hear Ms He Ting Ru say there is not sufficient time to consider them. It also seems contrary to calls on the Government to move faster not on recommendations but on implementation. This is because, when fully implemented, the White Paper promises to realise more closely our vision of a fairer and more inclusive society where men and women partner each other as equals and can pursue their aspirations freely and to the fullest. In truth, advancing the cause of women's development is a journey without end. In every generation, we must find new ways to elevate women. We cross each new milestone in the hope of going further to reach the next. As we commit ourselves to action, it is also worth asking what today's debate has achieved. I suggest to Members that its greatest contribution is in upholding the values we hold dear as a society and which will serve as our North Star as we seek out the next milestones in women's development. What are these values? The first and foremost has to be the equality of women and men. History is replete with examples of women being subjugated by men. In ancient Athens, widely regarded as the birthplace of democracy, women received little education. They lived in their own quarters separate from men – maybe it is for their own protection – and were confined to household duties. Not that these were unimportant, but women were otherwise excluded in society. Even towards the end of the European Age of Enlightenment, French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that women did not need to be educated to the same extent as men since their main duty in life was to please their husbands and educate their sons. Similar attitudes permeated Eastern tradition.”
“Some questions take time to consider, like those raised by Ms Hazel Poa on mandating CPF top-ups for caregivers by their spouses or those by Miss Rachel Ong and Mr Gerald Giam on legislating parental or family care leave. Other questions have no simple answers. For example, should paternity and maternity leave benefits be equalised to better reflect the desire for equal sharing of responsibilities between fathers and mothers in caring for their newborns? But as Minister of State Sun Xueling has pointed out, societal norms constrain men from fully utilising existing leave provisions. More leave provided does not automatically lead to more leave taken. At which point would mindsets have shifted sufficiently such that the equal provision of parental leave would, in fact, result in the equal sharing of responsibilities? Questions like these should not be forgotten. Every now and then, we should revisit them. And even if we do not, Mr Louis Ng will make sure that we do. [Laughter.] Like the subject of elective egg freezing, which Miss Cheng Li Hui championed for years, it takes time to develop deeper understanding and to build consensus on what is right for our women and our society. Likewise, for workplace fairness, which Labour Members of Parliament have actively championed and worked on the ground to achieve for years, new legislation builds on the steady gains we have already made to boost female employment in every age group. Sir, by any measure, this White Paper and its 25 recommendations are a major milestone for our whole-of-nation approach to Singapore women's development. In fact, the White Paper distils the views of Singaporeans over the year-long conversations. As early as September last year, Prime Minister Lee had outlined its key recommendations.”
“On protection against violence and harms, Ms Sylvia Lim made suggestions concerning family violence. Minister Shanmugam has outlined the holistic response that MHA is taking. Responding to Ms Hany Soh and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, Senior Minister of State Sim Ann has elaborated on how the Sunlight Alliance for Action will promote greater awareness of online harms and provide more holistic support to advocates in the community, as well as victims. On support for caregivers, many Members, such as Miss Rachel Ong and Mr Vikram Nair, have welcomed the enhancement of the Home Caregiving Grant. Ms Joan Pereira, Mr Sharael Taha and Ms Tin Pei Ling called on the Government to increase the capacity for respite care. In response, Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam shared MOH's commitment to make it more accessible and affordable. To Mr Yip Hon Weng's suggestion, Minister of State Low Yen Ling shared how the Government is working with community partners to strengthen peer support networks to better support caregivers. On changing mindsets, we absolutely agree with Ms Ng Ling Ling, Mr Seah Kian Peng, Ms He Ting Ru, Mr Leon Perera, Dr Shahira Abdullah and Ms Carrie Tan that it is foundational. We also agree with Ms Janet Ang and Assoc Prof Jamus Lim that more women are ready today for leadership roles. Minister Masagos Zulkifli has declared his support and his Ministry's active interventions on this front. At the same time, Minister Ong Ye Kung underscored society's collective duty. Sir, even with extensive consultations and wide-ranging engagements, no White Paper or parliamentary debate on women's development can claim to have addressed all pertinent issues that Singaporeans care about.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, let me start by thanking hon Members for their active participation and suggestions. There has been a marathon debate, feels almost like childbirth, but with epidural. So, quite painless. Because, fortunately, support for the Motion is unanimous, whether from PAP or Opposition Members. And I want to thank the Workers' Party, the PSP for speaking in support, even if we may not agree on everything. This is surely a good outcome for women and for Singapore. In my opening speech, I encouraged Members to focus on two key elements of the Motion being debated: how to catalyse further collective action; and how to realise greater equality of partnership between women and men. I appreciate all Members who spoke and for contributing their proposals. On catalysing collective action, Members like Ms Yeo Wan Ling and Mr Abdul Samad highlighted the importance of tripartism. Ms Poh Li San emphasised the media's role in shifting mindsets and Mr Darryl David underscored the need for a whole-of-society approach to uplift women. On realising more equal partnerships, Members like Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin, Mr Louis Ng and Mr Louis Chua highlighted the role of men in caregiving and how institutional arrangements must encourage it. My colleagues in Government have also responded to specific comments by Members. On workplaces, the Tripartite Guidelines on FWAs will be implemented about two years from now. To suggestions by Dr Wan Rizal, Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Ms Jessica Tan and Mr Melvin Yong to bring it forward, Minister of State Gan Siow Huang has highlighted that, in fact, MOM will promote greater adoption of the existing tripartite standards to boost momentum for the eventual implementation of the guidelines. So, things are moving.”
“While many Singapore women are empowered by caregiver support, some will continue to be constrained by cultural preferences held by society and even themselves. Therefore, more than being a comprehensive plan of action by the Government, the White Paper is a clarion call for each and every one to take action – take action in our homes, our workplaces, our community, our relationships; take action to recognise women's achievements as society's achievements; take action to pursue women's progress as part of society's progress. Mr Speaker, I have spoken about the many triumphs for women in Singapore. Standing in the Chamber today, these triumphs ring louder than ever. In December 1965, when the Parliament of Independent Singapore first sat, there were only two active women out of 64 Members. Today, women occupy 30 out 103 seats, a nine-fold increase in percentage terms. Just as our predecessors have laid the foundations for women to succeed, we, too, must build new scaffoldings for future generations of women to thrive. This White Paper reaffirms our shared vision of a fairer and more inclusive society. This will only happen when men and women partner each other as equals in every domain. It depends on how we, as family members, share in caregiving and act as role models for our children. It depends on how we, as a community, signal our protection and respect for our women. It depends on how we, as employers, empower women colleagues to dream bigger and fly higher. Women in Singapore can continue to triumph, not through our words, but our deeds. This is our collective mission. For this reason, I call on everyone to give it our fullest attention and support. Mr Speaker, I beg to move. [Applause.]”
“Part of the answer lies in additional legislative safeguards to uphold fairness at the workplace and also to uphold a more inclusive workplace. The White Paper promises that. Part of the solution lies in providing better support to caregivers. The White Paper promises that, too. But these efforts taken by the Government can only go so far. No law or tripartite guidelines can dictate the norms in a family, or the detailed practices of workplaces. Had my husband not stepped up as an involved father, had my brothers not stepped in to provide relief to my mother, had my father and father-in-law not given their blessings, I could not have continued to work with relative peace of mind, let alone stepped into public life with a degree of confidence. Throughout my working life, I was blessed to have bosses like Lim Swee Say and ex-Chairman of EDB Philip Yeo who made room to accommodate personal passions and circumstances. Twenty years ago, in the months following the birth of my twins, my former boss Lee Yi Shyan gave permission for me to work from home, long before telecommuting became a formalised policy and telecommunications infrastructure was mature. I will never forget the trust and the spiritual and practical support I have received from my bosses. (In English): Sir, this is why I firmly believe men's support for equal partnership with women is so important. It is also why I firmly believe collective action, beyond what the Government will do, is essential. We can put in place legislation on workplace fairness. But the lived experiences of working women depend on the understanding and support of employers and colleagues.”