SINGAPORE - MPs on Jan 10 discussed ways to keep Singaporeans safe online and in the real world, with the announcement of a new centre aimed at tackling deepfakes, and a proposed law change so that highly dangerous offenders can be detained indefinitely. Here are key takeaways:
1. Building digital safety
A new centre that seeks to detect harmful online content will be launched in the first half of 2024.
The Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety will bring research partners, companies and practitioners in Singapore together to help build a safer Internet.
This includes looking at measures to detect harmful content such as deepfakes and non-factual claims, trace the origin of such digital content, and provide vulnerable groups with resources to verify information they see online.
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore has published guidelines for app developers to ensure that high-risk monetary transactions performed on their apps are secure.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority has also published guidelines for telcos to identify vulnerable consumers and handle cases of suspected exploitation.
Why it matters:
Scam cases continue to rise in Singapore, with 22,339 reported in the first half of 2023, up from 13,576 cases reported in the first half of 2022.
A total of 20 MPs spoke on Jan 10 during the motion on building an inclusive and safe digital society.
The MPs raised the issue of how scams have eroded the trust of some vulnerable members of the public in digital services and prevented them from going digital.
2. Stiffer punishment for serious sexual and violent crimes
Those who commit serious violent offences, such as culpable homicide and attempted murder, or serious sexual offences such as rape and sexual penetration of a minor, may be detained indefinitely after their jail term ends.
Offenders of these crimes who are assessed by the court to be dealt with under the new Sentence for Enhanced Public Protection (Sepp) can be detained for a minimum term of between five and 20 years and will not get remission.
At the end of the minimum term, the offender will be released only if assessed by the minister for home affairs to no longer pose a threat to the public, instead of being automatically released under current laws.
If the offender is found suitable to leave prison, he will be released under conditions that may include counselling, a curfew and electronic tagging. However, unsuitable offenders can be detained indefinitely. The offender’s case will be reviewed annually.
Why it matters:
The authorities said current sentencing options are inadequate to deal with such serious offenders, and Sepp will ensure these offenders are detained for as long as is needed for public safety.
They cited cases of past convicts reoffending shortly after their release from prison, including a diagnosed paedophile who sexually assaulted his two grandnieces less than three years after serving a prison term for raping his stepdaughter. He was sentenced to the maximum 20 years’ preventive detention in 2022.
Current laws that allow offenders to be detained indefinitely include the Internal Security Act and the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, which has been used for offences relating to secret societies, drug trafficking and loan-shark activities.
If you have a few more minutes:
Protecting children in the adoption process
The social service sector has been shaken by a recent court case involving a 16-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted by a man who wanted to adopt her, said Minister of State for Social and Family Development Sun Xueling.
The girl had witnessed her mother’s suicide and was sexually abused by her biological father. Assessed to be a suicide risk, she was placed in a centre designed to help girls who have suffered trauma or abuse to reintegrate into society.
Ms Sun said the children’s home involved in the case performed due diligence on people who had contact with the girl. Background checks had also been conducted on the man and his wife before they were identified as her caregivers, and they had no adverse records. Social service professionals also followed up with supervised visits, check-ins and home visits.
Ms Sun said her ministry will continue to ensure those in the sector are up to date on how to spot signs of family violence. It will also launch tools to guide social services on when to report domestic violence.
Following up from COP28
Singapore is making good progress in preparing its first biennial transparency report, which includes information on its greenhouse gas emissions and the climate impacts it faces, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.
The report, which also includes progress on its climate targets, will be ready by the end of 2024.
Singapore will also be updating its national climate targets for 2035 by the COP30 conference, which will be held in the Brazilian Amazon in 2025.
Countries at COP28, including Singapore, have agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, and focus more on meeting net-zero emissions targets and ways to limit global warming to 1.5 deg C above pre-industrial levels. This includes an agreement to treble global renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030.
Singapore has already doubled its domestic solar capacity since 2021 to more than 1,000 megawatt-peak (MWp), and will increase this further by 2030 to reach 2,000MWp.
What goes into diplomatic bags
Diplomatic bags can be used for limited quantities of personal items to allow Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) staff to fulfil their overseas duties effectively, said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, limited medical supplies were sent to MFA staff.
On Nov 23, a director-general in the MFA, Gilbert Oh Hin Kwan, was charged with several offences related to using diplomatic bags for luxury watches and Panadol.
Aside from Oh’s case, there have been no instances of questionable use of the diplomatic bag in the past five years, Dr Balakrishnan said.
He added that staff have to declare the items going into diplomatic bags, and must not contravene import or export restrictions imposed by either Singapore or the receiving state. The bags are also subject to X-ray surveillance and other checks legally permitted under diplomatic practice.
