预算辩论 · 2025-03-07 · 第 14 届国会
数字基础设施与安全发展
Committee of Supply – Head Q (Ministry of Digital Development and Information)
议员质询数字基础设施的韧性与安全保障措施，关注云服务和数据中心的安全指南。政府强调新加坡数字经济增长显著，已发布指导提升基础设施安全，确保数字转型可持续且包容。核心争议在于如何进一步强化基础设施以应对全天候运营风险。
关键要点
- • 数字经济快速增长
- • 数字基础设施安全关键
- • 发布云服务安全指南
加强数字基础设施韧性与安全
关注基础设施安全与持续发展
强化数字基础设施安全
"A small failure in our digital infrastructure can cause major disruptions to our economic activities and daily lives."
参与人员（19）
- Alex Yam
- Eric Chua
- Gerald Giam Yean Song
- Hany Soh
- Jessica Tan Soon Neo
- 杨莉明
- Keith Chua
- Mariam Jaafar
- Minister for Digital Development and Information
- Minister of State for Digital Development and Information
- Rachel Ong
- Ong Hua Han
- Pritam Singh
- Rahayu Mahzam
- Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information
- Sharael Taha
- 陈杰豪
- Tin Pei Ling
- Xie Yao Quan
完整译文（中文）
Hansard 英文原文译文 · 翻译日期：2026-05-02
主席：数字发展与信息部Q组负责人。田佩玲女士。
12点26分
可持续且安全的数字增长
田佩玲女士（麦波申选区）：主席，我提出动议，“将预算中Q组的总拨款减少100元。”
数字化是我们当前的现实，也是不可避免的未来。这场转型不仅仅是技术升级，更是从根本上重塑我们的社会、经济和生活方式。它带来了巨大的经济机遇，承诺为未来世代提供更高的生活质量。
新加坡历来不惧怕变革，自独立以来经历了多次战略转型。鉴于今年是新加坡建国60周年，这一点尤为意义重大。我们最新的数字化推动已见成效，数字经济从2017年占国内生产总值（GDP）的13%增长到2022年的17.3%。
然而，随着我们加快迈向数字未来的步伐，我们也必须确保数字驱动的增长是可持续的、包容的且对所有人安全。
我认为实现数字成功未来有几个关键因素，即：世界级的数字基础设施、充满活力的人才社区和生态系统、企业的广泛采用、可持续和绿色发展、安全且包容的数字社会，以及更强的全球合作。
在这次开场削减中，我将重点关注世界级数字基础设施、可持续和绿色发展以及安全包容的数字社会。
新加坡历来提前大量投资建设基础设施，以便浪潮来临时我们能乘风破浪。因此，支撑我们数字增长的必须是高性能、韧性强且安全的数字基础设施，包括宽带网络、云服务、数据中心和高性能计算能力。
新加坡在最近的IMD世界数字竞争力排名中，数字基础设施位列亚洲第一。这绝非易事，只有经过多年的精心规划和努力工作才可能实现。因此，我们不能松懈。更重要的是，在数字世界中，一切全天候运行。数字基础设施的一个小故障就可能对我们的经济活动和日常生活造成重大干扰。
因此，部长能否分享正在采取哪些措施进一步建设我们的数字基础设施，并确保其韧性和安全？
我注意到信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）上个月发布了云服务提供商和数据中心的咨询指南，以增强其韧性和安全性。部长能否详细说明这些指南中的关键措施，以及它们如何帮助运营商提升韧性和安全措施？
随着人工智能（AI）在各行业和部门横向及纵向的日益整合，数字技术的整体采用率提高，对数据中心和更高计算能力的需求将增加。因此，能源需求也将呈指数增长。
12点30分
数据中心作为数字经济的支柱，目前消耗全球约1%至1.5%的电力，高盛研究预计，到2027年这一数字将增长50%，到2030年相比2023年可能增长高达165%。例如，训练先进的AI模型，其碳足迹相当于每处理一单位文本驾驶汽油车行驶5至20英里。因此，在拥抱数字化的同时，我们必须加快脱碳步伐，增强能源安全，减少对棕色能源的依赖。
因此，部长能否阐述政府在平衡数字基础设施增长与环境可持续承诺方面的策略？我们是否可以考虑设立结构化项目，推动各行业使用节能算法？
我们是否可以考虑制定更具指导性的准则，建议行业在设计软件时采用何种硬件类型和标准？目前IMDA和微软已制定了软件开发相关准则。是否有扩展这些准则的空间？
尽管存在地缘政治敏感性，我们能从DeepSeek的经验中学到什么？据称其比其他AI模型更便宜且更环保。政府将如何确保获得更多绿色能源，以支持新加坡的可持续数字发展？
最后，信任是社会的基石，而数字社会的信任基础是确保其对所有人包容且安全。
数字未来要真正成功，新加坡人必须能够轻松访问数字服务，并有意义地参与数字经济。他们在在线互动和交易时也应感到安全。为此，我们的数字发展与信息政府议会委员会（GPC）于去年一月提出动议，“重申我们采用全民方法，通过建设包容且安全的数字社会来维持信任的承诺”。委员们讨论了确保包容且安全数字社会的必要性，并提出了13项行动呼吁以实现这一目标。
部长能否更新自2024年一月提出这13项行动呼吁以来的进展或实施情况？
在确保安全方面，黄循财总理在启动智慧国2.0时提到将出台新法保护网络受害者。最近的媒体报道指出，上个月寻求网络伤害支持中心帮助的人数几乎翻倍，网络伤害呈上升趋势。因此，我们有新的紧迫性和必要性加强保护网络受害者。部长能否提供更多关于新法如何应对网络伤害的细节？
我还有时间，请允许我用普通话发言。
（普通话）：[请参阅方言发言。] 主席，迈向数字经济是新加坡的必由之路。成功有两个重要因素。第一，我们必须继续使数字经济绿色且可持续；第二，确保公民更深度参与，使他们共享进步成果。
基于第二点，我们需要确保建设一个安全且包容的数字社会，让公民能够安心且有意义地参与数字经济发展。
去年，GPC在议会提出动议，提出了13项行动呼吁。我希望政府能聚焦这13项呼吁，持续提升数字社会的整体安全。希望部长能就这些呼吁作出更新。
此外，我们是否也应考虑立法加强打击有害行为，如网络犯罪、诈骗和欺凌？希望部长能提供更多相关信息。
（英语）：先生，如果数字增长和实现数字未来不能持续，且人民感到不安全或无法享受数字化带来的利益，那么我们的努力将毫无意义。因此，我请求动议。
[(程序文本) 动议提出。 (程序文本)]
主席：田佩玲女士，再次发言。您可以将剩余的发言合并。
国家人工智能战略2.0进展更新
面向商业的人工智能
数字人才与社区
数字未来的全球合作
利用人工智能推动商业发展
田佩玲女士：先生，在我的开场发言及过去在本院的演讲中，我阐述了为何数字化对国家增长和福祉至关重要。我谈到了随之而来的机遇与挑战。我还分享了我认为实现数字成功未来的几个关键因素，即：世界级数字基础设施、充满活力的人才社区和生态系统、企业的广泛采用、可持续和绿色发展、安全且包容的数字社会，以及更强的全球合作。
这里，我将谈谈人才与生态系统、对企业的支持以及全球合作。
聚焦人工智能，新加坡在国家人工智能战略（NAIS）2.0报告中有明确策略。报告指出，人工智能不再是机遇，而是必需品，必须从项目走向系统，从本地走向全球。
NAIS 2.0自2023年12月发布已逾一年，部长能否分享政府和产业在推动采用、试验和创新方面的一些努力和成果？
在NAIS 2.0中，人才和社区构成重要体系。我完全同意。没有合适的人力资本，数字未来无法实现。我们必须培养年轻人，建设本土人才管道，并吸引全球最优秀的人才。
我们不仅希望培养新加坡人具备抓住国内外机遇的能力，还希望他们能与顶尖人才切磋交流。通过培育充满活力的人才、研究机构和企业社区，思想可以交叉融合，合作得以实现，我们能创造一个惠及经济和人民的良性创新循环。公私合作及强有力的同行协作对提供有意义的机会至关重要，这将使人才留在新加坡。
因此，部长能否更新加强人才储备和提升人才及合作伙伴社区“留存力”的相关措施？
接下来，本地企业是推动经济的关键引擎。我们必须帮助本地企业采用新技术，使创新力量充分释放，惠及经济和新加坡人。
多年来，政府已采取重大措施支持企业采用新技术。然而，随着生成式人工智能模型的突破，如近期出现的模型，我们必须加倍努力。各行业企业必须将人工智能纳入核心战略和运营。需要针对特定行业及不同数字成熟度的企业采取更有针对性的方法，帮助它们前进。
随着多个行业数字化计划（IDPs）的更新，以及法律和旅游行业新IDPs的推出，部长能否阐述这些计划如何针对行业特定的人工智能工具和挑战进行定制？IMDA如何支持不同数字成熟度阶段的企业采用和利用生成式人工智能技术？部长预期这些新举措将为中小企业带来哪些具体益处？
同时，地缘政治紧张，尤其是美中竞争，带来挑战。企业在选择生成式人工智能平台时需要明确性和保障。例如，有些企业可能因美国制裁担忧使用DeepSeek的人工智能模型。在应对这些复杂局势时，我们是否有空间为企业提供更明确的指导和支持，使其在不担心遭受两大国报复或制裁的情况下采用技术？
基于黄振辉议员在预算辩论中的观点，我同意必须建立一个能考虑本地社会价值观、伦理标准及其他本地因素的模型。以DeepSeek为例，它虽被誉为突破，但也是从许多其他人工智能模型中提炼而来。因此，我想问新加坡是否有可能开发或提炼自己的人工智能模型，使本地企业能依托此模型，带着更强的信心持续成长和发展。
最后，全球合作至关重要。在数字经济日益互联的世界中，新加坡作为金融和贸易枢纽的角色比以往任何时候都重要。我们已与澳大利亚、英国和新西兰签署数字经济协议（DEA），并积极推进东盟数字经济框架协议。这些举措将促进数据共享、统一理解和标准、推动技术合作，并可能帮助打击网络伤害，确保我们保持全球数字经济的前沿地位。
因此，部长能否更新政府如何与全球政府和组织合作，建设能力、促进数据共享和交易，以及打击网络伤害？
SPH媒体信托——关键绩效指标（KPI）
普里坦·辛格议员（亚历山大选区）：先生，数字发展与信息部（MDDI）在去年的预算中披露，2024/2025财年为SPH媒体信托预留了2.6亿新元。我们还被告知，部委为SPH媒体信托设立了关键绩效指标（KPI）。部长表示，尽管SPH媒体信托保持了整体覆盖率，并实现了数字订阅的适度增长，但未达到数字覆盖率、青年覆盖率、方言覆盖率及网站和应用平均停留时间的所有KPI。因此，未获得全部承诺资金。
对于2024/2025财年，部委为这些未达标的KPI设定了哪些客观标准？具体来说，这些KPI是降低了还是提高了？SPH媒体信托自去年以来表现是否有所改善？部长能否分享过去两年其英文及方言报刊的印刷和数字订阅数据？
我也曾询问部长，部委在预算书中呈现对SPH媒体信托的补贴方式，是否有更简便的方式让公众追踪和理解部委为SPH媒体信托设定的KPI。鉴于对主流媒体的补贴规模，这一点尤为重要。毕竟，正如部长所同意的，事实胜于雄辩。
我想分享一些关注本地英文新闻的人的轶事反馈，例如，CNA在本地议题的报道和评论深度已超过《海峡时报》。部委是否进行本地调查以评估公众对本地媒体的反应？如果有，部委如何决定将纳税人的资金投入公众评价较低的媒体？此类调查多久进行一次？部委还跟踪哪些其他客观KPI以确保纳税人的资金用于SPH媒体的用途得当？
主席：苏翰仪女士，您可以将两段发言合并。
公共服务媒体实体
苏翰仪女士（马西岭-裕廊西选区）：随着技术和人工智能的发展带来新机遇，也带来了新挑战和竞争。以新闻、媒体和娱乐领域为例，全球消费者越来越倾向于在线流媒体服务和非传统来源，如社交媒体。
2024年7月，英国广播公司（BBC）宣布计划在明年3月前裁员500人，以节省2亿英镑，成为“更精简、更灵活的组织”，以应对资金和通胀压力。这是在其员工人数已减少10%，约2000个岗位之后。其长期旗舰时事访谈节目《HARDtalk》也因此被取消。
今年1月，CNN宣布计划裁员6%，以调整节目安排和数字战略。这是在去年夏天已裁减100个岗位，约占员工总数3%，以重组新闻采集部门之后。
本地方面，SPH媒体去年11月宣布裁员34人，占其技术部门的10%，以应对重组和数字转型。
12点45分
作为新加坡广播员工工会顾问，我与广播行业工会成员交流时了解到，他们担忧随着新加坡人和全球一样，从各种数字渠道和平台消费媒体，传统模拟媒体平台的内容消费迅速下降，职位重组不可避免。
在这一不断变化的背景下，数字发展与信息部如何支持我们的公共服务媒体实体，确保它们在持续的技术颠覆和信息来源激增中保持相关性并维持或提升观众覆盖率？
数字包容人人共享
（普通话）：[请参阅方言发言。] 多年来，政府通过多项举措帮助弱势群体融入数字社会，如DigitalAccess@Home、长者数码行动和长者手机行动。这些项目提供补贴宽带设备，提高公众对数字技术的认识，并提供培训支持这些群体。
鉴于此，MDDI能否分享这些举措的当前成果？例如，到目前为止，有多少家庭受益于DigitalAccess@Home？Seniors Go Digital在培训老年人使用数字工具方面取得了哪些进展？此外，在实施这些项目过程中遇到了哪些挑战，采取了哪些措施来应对？未来是否有计划进一步扩大这方面的支持？
我建议部委考虑以下措施，以进一步加强对弱势群体的支持：加强与企业的合作，推出更全面的方案，降低低收入家庭的数字接入成本。扩大社区工作坊，提供更个性化的数字培训，例如一对一辅导，以满足老年人的学习需求，同时继续提升他们防范网络诈骗的意识和能力。
加强对残疾人士辅助技术和培训的支持，可能通过与企业和专业组织合作，提供定制化解决方案。数字包容对于社会公平和进步至关重要。我期待部委的回应，并相信这些努力将继续惠及更多新加坡人。
数字空间中的公民支持
许家豪先生（提名议员）：主席先生，数字化正在改变我们的生活、工作和互动方式。从电子支付到远程医疗和数字政府服务，技术已成为我们日常生活的基石。随着新加坡的发展，我们必须确保每位新加坡人，无论年龄、能力或背景如何，都能自信地在网络空间中导航，不惧被排斥或被利用。我们的数字未来必须建立在包容、赋权和安全的基础上。虽然许多人已适应，但仍有一些人数字能力薄弱，缺乏数字自信，包括在电子服务方面挣扎的老年人以及身体和精神残疾人士。
IMDA宣布了国家数字生活运动下与300多家合作伙伴的战略合作，旨在提升新加坡人的基本数字技能。这些努力值得称赞，对缩小数字鸿沟起到了关键作用。但仍需做更多工作以覆盖服务不足的社区。社会及家庭发展部的一份报告强调了设计和技术解决方案在促进残疾人士独立生活方面的必要性。
我想问部委，现有的数字举措如何确保大众普及，确保无人被落下？我们如何扩大努力，进一步弥合数字鸿沟？有哪些策略赋能公民掌握安全有效使用技术的技能和信心？我们如何确保所有数字平台的无障碍性，特别是针对残疾人士？我们如何加强公众对网络威胁的认识，确保新加坡人能够识别并保护自己免受数字风险？
一个包容、安全且数字赋能的社会不仅是目标，更是必需。我们必须确保每位新加坡人都能安全、自信地访问、使用并受益于技术。
主席：贾米尔·贾姆先生，请将您的两段发言合并。
数字包容
贾米尔·贾姆彦松先生（亚历山大）：先生，数字化服务提升了个人和组织的效率与便利性。然而，一些新加坡人因身体限制、缺乏数字素养或适应困难而难以跟上步伐。这些人面临被边缘化的风险，尤其是随着更多政府和商业服务转向线上。
提供纸质申请并非解决数字边缘化的万能方案。所有机构应设立配备熟悉本机构流程的工作人员的自助电脑站。这些工作人员应引导用户完成数字申请，帮助他们逐步独立使用系统。
ServiceSG中心在引导市民使用政府电子服务方面发挥重要作用，但其工作人员不可能熟悉每个机构的详细流程。虽然他们协助处理常见数字功能，但无法应对复杂申请，如长期探访准证或公设辩护人申请。政府机构必须承担起引导用户使用自身系统的责任。ServiceSG网络也应扩大，包括设立在实龙岗。
Seniors Go Digital项目旨在帮助老年人使用数字服务。该项目迄今效果如何？培训了多少老年人，他们的数字素养提升了多少？是否有计划扩大项目覆盖更多市民？
除了基础培训，数字包容工作还应确保老年人及其他数字边缘群体能更自信地使用关键平台，包括连接家庭、企业和政府机构的通讯应用。
先生，数字化必须促进更大包容，而非制造新障碍，使所有新加坡人无论年龄、能力或经济状况，都能充分享受数字化带来的益处。
民意调查
先生，去年我在自家楼下参与了一项涵盖多种政治和社会话题的调查。调查问及我对生活、经济和社区的满意度，也让我评价政府是否以新加坡利益为重，是否重视我的意见，是否有足够渠道表达观点。还评价了武装部队、公共服务、主流媒体和网络媒体的质量，以及我对警方和法院的信心。调查涉及住房、医疗、公共交通和教育的负担能力，工作中是否面临外国人竞争，移民速度和移民质量。最后，问我认同新加坡人的程度及是否愿为更好生活移民他国。
当我询问调查由谁委托时，调查员无法告知。最近我又见到另一调查员在我社区进行类似调查，过去也曾通过电话收到类似调查。这些调查是否由政府委托？如果是，哪个部委负责？这些调查仅用于制定公共政策，还是也用于选举目的的民意测量？
如果使用了公共资金，结果应公开，否则可能被视为服务于党派利益，而非惠及新加坡和全体新加坡人。
网络危害防护
蔡伟业先生（丹戎巴葛）：先生，2022年我曾谈及暴露于色情内容、游戏成瘾及其他网络危害的风险。我强调需要提高意识、采取适当干预，并由政府、家庭和社会共同努力，营造更安全、更积极的网络环境。
去年我指出数字技术普及使青少年暴露于有害内容，主流和社交媒体传播的不切实际的身体标准已成为社会心理健康的压力源。
网络世界已成为我们生活不可或缺的一部分，提供社交、知识共享和内容创作机会。但必须让网络环境更安全，尤其是对年轻易受影响者。有些人建议通过禁止访问来解决网络危害，但仅靠禁止显然不可行。
例如，社交媒体禁令可能带来意想不到的危险。前提是年轻人擅长使用互联网。禁令可能促使他们在父母不知情的情况下访问社交媒体，或寻找无监管的隐秘网络区域。
因此，我重申呼吁MDDI深入研究如何塑造一个兼顾安全与成长机会的网络环境。毕竟，我们的数字空间应是年轻人交流、分享知识和创作内容的建设性平台，更安全、更有利于所有人。
网络安全
谢耀权先生（裕廊）：主席，网络安全是一个持续进展的工作，或许永远如此。首份网络安全评估报告证明了这一点。IMDA的神秘购物测试显示，Instagram首次对违反其社区准则的合法用户举报仅采取了2%的行动。Facebook平均需九天处理合法举报，X平台平均十天，远远超过X在其年度报告中宣称的中位处理时间15.06小时——非常精确。
综合来看，大多数指定社交媒体服务仅对约一半的合法举报采取行动，平均需五天处理。别误会，我认为MDDI在提升新加坡用户网络安全方面做了大量工作，我们的网络安全法律具有里程碑意义，但仍需做更多。
我有几个问题：一，部委如何与指定社交媒体服务合作，确保它们更有效地处理用户举报，更快删除有害内容？二，部委是否考虑加强对社交媒体服务的惩罚措施？IMDA迄今对平台因未履行法律义务已罚款多少？三，是否计划将Telegram最终指定为社交媒体服务，因为实际上它是社交媒体服务，而非仅是通讯应用？
主席：亚历克斯·严先生，请将您的三段发言合并。
面向未来的公共图书馆
亚历克斯·严先生（马西岭-裕廊西）：主席先生，我小时候非常喜欢图书馆。访问福康宁国家图书馆或区域图书馆总是令人期待。因此，我提请部委向议会介绍我们的公共图书馆将如何发展，以支持面向未来的新加坡。图书馆长期以来是社区丰富文化的基石，但数字时代需要更创新的学习方式。
我们可以期待图书馆推出哪些新举措，鼓励所有新加坡人更广泛地采用技术和掌握技能？此外，这些举措将如何针对不同年龄群体，尤其是老年人进行规模化推广，使每个人无论数字流利度如何都能受益？
图书馆不应仅是书籍的存放地，而应成为新知识和数字实践体验的活跃试验场。我期待听到部委如何计划将这些变革性机会带入社区核心。
网络空间的文明讨论
在我们互联互通的世界中，社交媒体和数字平台是社区建设的强大工具，但也可能成为有害言论、错误信息和极化叙事的温床，威胁社会结构。
我们长期以社会凝聚力自豪，不能让网络仇恨破坏我们的团结。尤其是青年易受数字空间负面影响。部长能否分享部委在网络上促进公民意识的战略努力，无论是通过数字素养项目、与社区团体合作的举措，还是鼓励负责任网络行为的针对性政策？
无障碍数字服务
主席先生，部委将如何确保我们的数字服务真正做到不落下任何人，尤其是老年人和残疾人士？在推进智能举措和数字转型的同时，如何确保这些进步对社会弱势群体公平且可及？我们知道技术有时令人望而生畏，若实施不当甚至排斥部分人群。因此，部委是否会推出新标准或指南，确保我们的网站、应用及其他数字资源对不同需求的用户友好？
最后，部委将如何衡量成效、跟踪进展并提供透明更新，以确保社区各个群体都能从我们的数字未来中受益？
我也借此机会肯定MDDI及相关机构工作人员在推动包容和知情社会数字转型方面的工作。我曾与他们在多个项目中合作，见证了他们的热情和奉献，致力于让生活更紧密连接、更高效数字化，同时极具人文关怀。感谢大家的努力。
下午1点
身份证——跨部门协调的领导
王华汉先生（提名议员）：先生，MDDI应牵头协调政府各部门保护个人信息的工作。1月部长声明中，张玉娟部长澄清，诈骗者并不直接利用身份证号码盗窃或解锁贵重物品。
但身份证号码仍是获取新加坡个人信息（虽非机密信息）的门户。例如，中央公积金局网站上的匹配退休储蓄计划资格查询器，任何人都可查询某位长者退休账户余额是否低于基本退休金额，月收入是否低于4000元，及其住所的年值是否低于21000元。
所有这些信息仅凭长者的身份证号码和出生日期即可查询。虽然这些信息的滥用方式不易察觉，但诈骗者可利用这些信息建立可信度，通过社会工程手段操控易受骗者。
我理解公积金局旨在方便资格查询，但随着诈骗手法日益复杂，我们是否应更审慎地重新权衡安全与便利的平衡？
我们必须未雨绸缪，领先应对新兴威胁。凭借在数据保护方面的深厚专业知识，MDDI最适合帮助政府部门培养主动数据安全的意识。
主席：陈洁仪女士，请将您的三段发言合并。
新加坡的数字韧性
陈洁仪女士（东海岸）：谢谢主席。随着数字技术和服务的日益普及及新加坡智慧国的愿景，确保数字韧性对于建立和维护公民及企业的信任至关重要。我们的网络安全生态系统、下一代全国宽带网络（NextGen NBN）及基础设施建设、教育和劳动力发展、数字治理和创新在新加坡数字韧性战略中发挥关键作用。
随着数字技术普及，网络攻击风险和威胁复杂度不断增加。网络安全、人工智能及新兴技术领域的人才需求持续增长，公共部门和企业均面临人才短缺。为确保稳健的数字基础设施，新加坡需投资基础设施升级和准备。技术快速发展要求监管和政策框架具备灵活性和适应性，既支持创新，又提供必要保障。
那么，新加坡如何准备领先应对新兴数字威胁，并拥有适应性数字战略？MDDI能否分享提升新加坡数字韧性的战略重点？
人工智能带来的增长机遇
主席先生，人工智能和创新为各行业企业带来巨大增长机遇。通过采用人工智能解决方案，企业可开辟新收入来源，提升客户体验，优化运营并降低风险。
正如贸易及工业部昨日分享的COS，人工智能在各行业的采用正在增加。企业在推动采用人工智能解决方案的过程中，既面临机遇，也面临挑战。
企业采用人工智能解决方案的重大挑战之一是人工智能专业人才的短缺和竞争。企业还需基础设施和资源，包括计算能力、数据存储和云服务。高质量数据的获取对成功采用人工智能至关重要，因为数据是训练人工智能模型的基础。
随着人工智能采用增长，企业必须确保负责任和伦理地使用人工智能，包括如何处理数据隐私、偏见和透明度。这对于建立和维护信任至关重要。
2025年预算中宣布的1.5亿新元企业计算计划旨在解决企业在采用人工智能解决方案时面临的这些挑战。企业如何利用企业计算计划？资格标准是什么？
数字与人工智能专业知识和能力
新加坡打造智慧国的愿景以及我们对数字化转型以实现可持续增长的承诺，要求我们拥有强大且具备数字专业知识和能力的人才库。新加坡数字战略的一个关键支柱是加速人工智能（AI）的开发和部署。最新版本的国家人工智能战略（NAIS 2.0）于2023年发布。人才是实现这一目标的重要推动力。推动人工智能能力发展的关键因素是培养强大的人才库。
人工智能专业知识和能力的格局动态且迅速演变，全球各国都在人工智能研究、开发和人才引进方面进行大量投资。那么，政府如何确保公共部门及更广泛的新加坡生态系统内拥有强大的人才储备和技术专长，并留住这些人才？
考虑到新加坡资源有限，我们如何构建这些能力？在帮助我们实现人工智能创新跨越式发展的过程中，关键考虑因素有哪些？在全球人工智能人才竞争激烈的环境下，新加坡在发展和吸引顶尖人工智能专业人才和能力方面进展如何？
主席：下一位议员未到。Rachel Ong女士。
提升人工智能劳动力准备度
Rachel Ong女士（西海岸选区）：主席，人工智能正在迅速改变各行各业，重塑工作岗位并重新定义必备技能。星展集团最近宣布未来三年将裁员4,000人，凸显了人工智能日益增长的影响。这种转变不仅限于大型企业，中小企业也必须适应以保持竞争力。人工智能能力应成为普遍的劳动力资产，而非仅限少数人的专业技能。
教育机构正在积极响应，例如义安理工学院开设了生成式人工智能课程，帮助专业人士掌握实用的人工智能技能。
然而，中小企业对这类培训的采纳情况仍不确定。随着人工智能重塑就业格局，政府如何确保企业和员工，尤其是中小企业及弱势岗位的员工做好准备？有哪些举措帮助劳动力发展人工智能技能以提升生产力？这些行业的员工在转型过程中将获得怎样的支持？
主席：Mariam Jaafar女士，您可以将您的两段发言合并。
政府人工智能应用案例
Mariam Jaafar女士（森巴旺选区）：主席，人工智能和生成式人工智能正在改变全球政府机构在所有核心政府部门和职能中的运作方式——以简化政府服务、提升治理水平和改善公民体验。
例如，在医疗领域用于预测和管理疾病爆发及日益增长的医疗状况，在基础设施领域进行智能交通规划，在社会服务领域加快文件处理或检测欺诈行为，以及在客户服务和公民参与方面。政府作为领先用户，还能为新兴人工智能基础设施提供基础负载，并开发和压力测试符合我们价值观的新兴负责任人工智能框架。
在新加坡，政府已经在交通管理等应用场景中使用人工智能。政府创造了哪些价值？政府采取了哪些措施加速人工智能和生成式人工智能的采用，并通过人工智能实现价值创造？
企业采用人工智能
主席，人工智能不再是遥远的未来技术，它已经到来，正在改变行业和重塑工作岗位。许多企业已经使用人工智能提升生产力，尤其是个人生产力，部署了如微软Co-Pilot等工具——但这些以生产力为驱动的人工智能应用通常仅带来10%至20%的生产力提升。
为了实现真正的企业价值创造，企业必须超越此阶段，利用人工智能重塑其关键核心业务流程，例如基于人工智能的故障检测，或发明新产品和服务，例如通过按需付费的方式向客户收取人工智能积分以使用新功能。只有这样，我们才能通过更高的收入增长、显著提升运营效率和增强客户体验，实现真正的价值创造。
在这方面，新加坡企业采用人工智能的情况仍然非常不均衡，尤其是在中小企业中。根据我对该主题的研究，主要挑战包括设定正确的人工智能目标和对齐、从人工智能概念验证扩展到大规模价值创造，以及寻找合适的人才。较小的公司还发现云计算和人工智能基础设施的访问成本较高。
主席，我们需要普及基础设施、生态系统和人才的获取，并提升企业的人工智能目标。政府如何支持本地企业加速采用人工智能，实现更大规模的价值创造，从而使新加坡继续利用人工智能实现经济收益和社会效益？
主席：下一位议员未到。Sharael Taha先生，您可以将五段发言合并。
构建人工智能和技术人才储备
Sharael Taha先生（巴西立-榜鹅选区）：主席，我的第一段发言。虽然新加坡正在构建人工智能、网络安全及其他新兴技术的深厚能力，但这些技能不仅对技术专业人员至关重要，普通劳动力也越来越需要具备基本的终端用户知识。我们努力培养具备深厚专业知识的劳动力，同时同样重要的是提升更广泛劳动力的基础数字和人工智能技能。
人工智能不应仅是少数人的小众技能，而应像今天职场中使用微软Word或Excel一样普及。关于培养专家能力，技术技能加速器（TeSA）在装备本地劳动力以满足人工智能和网络安全岗位的深度技术技能方面效果如何？我们是否有望达到人工智能从业者的目标？
在技术行业之外，人工智能有潜力提升生产力，加快并改善决策，尤其对中小企业同样重要。然而，中小企业的采用情况仍不均衡。我们如何加速提升更广泛劳动力的人工智能素养和数字技能，确保零售、物流、专业服务或其他行业的员工都能利用人工智能提升生产力、扩大业务规模并保持全球竞争力？
赋能中小企业采用人工智能解决方案
许多中小企业缺乏预算组建内部数字团队或聘请人工智能人才来识别和实施业务中的人工智能机会。政府如何支持中小企业利用人工智能提升生产力、增强决策能力并通过采用人工智能解决方案实现有效扩展？
成为人工智能发展领导者
新加坡立志成为全球人工智能采用、创新和数字技术解决方案的领导者。在2024年预算案中宣布将与产业合作推动人工智能的采用和创新。请问部委能否提供这些合作的最新进展？我们如何进一步鼓励企业在新加坡发展或建立人工智能能力？
除了计划和补助，构建合适的生态系统对于吸引和维持人工智能驱动的发展至关重要。这不仅需要技术人才和尖端基础设施，如超高速宽带网络，还需有效匹配技术与业务需求，并配备必要的防范措施以防止滥用。我们在NAIS 2.0战略中取得了哪些进展，以实现新加坡将人工智能作为一种善用力量，赋能企业并提升人民生活的愿景？
同时，支持人工智能创新的基础设施和专业知识也可能被用于犯罪活动。有哪些防范措施防止恶意行为者滥用，确保我们人工智能生态系统的完整性？
提升网络安全水平
网络安全威胁持续上升，尽管我们已修订《网络安全法》以加强对关键信息基础设施的保护，并扩大新加坡网络安全局（CSA）的监管范围涵盖新类别，我们如何持续提升国家网络安全水平？
许多中小企业缺乏预算组建内部网络安全团队或聘请具备深厚网络安全专业知识的人才。我们如何协助中小企业提升网络安全水平？
支持方言媒体
对我们方言媒体的支持使这些平台得以转型，提供许多创新的数字产品以吸引社区。
特别是《Berita Harian》能够为马来语使用者提供丰富的媒体内容，不仅在新加坡，也覆盖整个地区。这很重要，因为它提供了新加坡马来族群对区域时事的视角。请问这如何提升了《Berita Harian》的观众数量？我们如何进一步协助方言报纸触及更广泛的区域马来语听众？
主席：Josephine Teo部长。
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数字发展与信息部长（Josephine Teo女士）：主席，感谢各位议员的发言。
去年，李显龙总理启动了智慧国2.0——刷新了新加坡利用科技提升人民生活的愿景。今天，我将详细介绍我们在四个方面的努力：（一）如何支持劳动力在人工智能时代取得成功；（二）如何通过打击有害的网络活动保障新加坡人的安全；（三）如何保护我们的网络空间免受恶意攻击；（四）如何通过加强公共服务媒体维护我们信息空间的信任。
主席，请允许书记员分发资料包。
主席：好的，请分发。[资料包已分发给尊敬的议员。]
Josephine Teo女士：谢谢。议员们也可以通过MP@SGPARL应用程序访问这些材料。
主席，关于今年的预算案和财政部长辩论，议员们多次提及人工智能。Jessica Tan女士、Rachel Ong女士和Sharael Taha先生也表达了对人工智能对工人影响的关切。
我理解这些关切。这些问题是真实存在的，并将在一段时间内持续，因为我们目前仅处于全球人工智能采用的早期阶段。全球各地的人们都想知道谁将受到影响以及如何受到影响。虽然没有完全明确的答案，但我们可以采取一些措施帮助应对。
首先要认识到，许多工作岗位仍将存在。风险不在于这些工作岗位被人工智能取代，而是被更具竞争力的国家或城市抢走。因此，我们最重要的任务是帮助尽可能多的人和企业利用人工智能提升生产力。我们希望成为一个具备能力和信心使用人工智能的国家。通过这样做，我们可以保持新加坡的经济竞争力，并留住更多优质工作岗位。
主席，我整理了一份由多个机构比较的新加坡情况清单，见资料包。议员们会看到，新加坡在人工智能广泛采用方面享有良好声誉和有利地位。我们应抓住这一机遇。我们已与亚马逊网络服务（AWS）、Databricks、谷歌和甲骨文等科技公司建立了稳固的合作伙伴关系。例如，微软与全国职工总会学习中心合作，培训多达10万名工人掌握人工智能技能。
同时，信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）正与新加坡技能未来（SkillsFuture Singapore）合作，扩展“数字职场2.0”课程，纳入人工智能和生成式人工智能内容。通过这一扩展，制造业或零售业等各行业的员工都能学习如何使用ChatGPT和CoPilot等工具，即使他们没有技术背景，也能提升工作生产力。
其次，我们必须认识到，人工智能在替代部分现有岗位的同时，也会创造新岗位。正如议员们所强调的，我们的下一项重要任务是深化人工智能能力，在新加坡培育更多新岗位。这意味着扩大人工智能从业者队伍，包括数据科学家、机器学习工程师等。
以人工智能安全为例。随着人工智能采用的增长，对人工智能测试和保障服务提供商的需求也将增加，就像信息技术（IT）广泛采用带动了IT审计师需求一样。对这类测试、检验和认证服务市场的估计各异，但未来规模将达到数十亿。
新加坡重视良好的人工智能治理。我们是全球最早推出测试框架和软件工具包AI Verify的国家之一。就在上个月，我启动了AI Verify基金会的全球人工智能保障试点，推广生成式人工智能模型测试的最佳实践。这些努力有助于发展本地人工智能测试产业，创造新岗位。
针对Sharael Taha先生和Tin Pei Ling女士的提问，我来更新一下扩大人工智能从业者队伍的进展。
我之前分享过，我们的目标是在大约五年内将从业者人数从不足5,000人扩大到15,000人。过去一年多，我们估计从业者队伍增长了近25%。
信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）与贸易与工业部（MTI）密切合作设立的人工智能卓越中心，将催生数百甚至数千个人工智能岗位需求。公共部门本身需求也在增长。例如，内务部科学技术局（HTX）计划到2025年底招聘并培训300人的人工智能团队。
为满足需求，我们需要培养强大的人才储备。为此，我们将扩大IMDA的技术技能加速器（TeSA）计划，提供更多由企业主导的培训机会。我们还将探索与人工智能新加坡合作，扩大人工智能学徒计划。
让我分享一个这些项目如何惠及新加坡人的例子。
Seow Yuxin曾学习商业，职业生涯开始于一家电商平台的区域运营岗位。她当时并未直接从事人工智能系统工作，但该岗位激发了她对该领域的兴趣。在看到丈夫和姐夫参加人工智能学徒计划后，她勇敢报名参加。
我最近与Yuxin交谈，欣喜地得知她已转型到一家新公司，负责为其他组织提供人工智能和数据驱动的解决方案。
我们决心让人工智能机会开放且包容。Yuxin的例子表明，即使没有理工科背景，也能获得人工智能机会。我们将支持更多像她一样的新加坡人实现人工智能梦想。
作为政府，我们始终将人民置于所有工作的核心，这也包括我们的人工智能计划。我希望这些努力能让议员们放心，我们支持新加坡人充分利用人工智能。
除了在人工智能领域取得成功，我们还希望新加坡人在上网时感到安全。但这不是政府单方面能实现的。社交媒体平台必须承担责任，就像所有服务提供商都对用户负有一定责任一样。这就是为什么我们在2022年通过了《网络安全（杂项修正）法》，明确了它们的基本义务。
正如Eric Chua先生所说，我们相信采取全面且平衡的网络安全策略，尤其是针对年轻用户。在必要时，我们将加强监管手段。例如，今年1月，我们发布了针对应用分发服务的新《网络安全行为准则》。这是首次引入措施，确保18岁以下年轻用户无法访问不适龄应用。
上个月，我们还发布了首份《网络安全评估报告》。针对Xie Yao Quan先生提出的问题，报告显示指定社交媒体服务已采取良好措施，建立了基本用户安全保障。但正如他指出的，仍有改进空间。平台应更快响应用户举报，保护儿童免受有害内容的措施也远未令人满意。
因此，信息通信媒体发展局正在研究是否应将应用商店的年龄认证义务也适用于社交媒体服务。
我们还希望加大对网络伤害受害者的支持。IMDA报告发现，平台往往未能采取行动删除受害者举报的真正有害内容。
有一位受害者名叫Jane（化名）。她18岁时，惊恐地发现一张她的脸被合成到他人裸体身体上的照片，在一个图片分享平台上流传。陌生人转发该图片并发表评论，其中一些带有性暗示或侮辱。当她向平台举报时，平台仅删除了原始帖子，但未删除转发内容。在这段经历中，她感到害怕和尴尬，甚至责怪自己当初上传照片。十年后，现年29岁的Jane仍在质疑是谁制作了那张照片，以及它是否仍在网上流传。像Jane这样的受害者需要更多支持以获得心理慰藉。
在智慧国2.0启动时，总理宣布政府将推出新立法，支持受害者寻求针对特定网络伤害的救济。Tin女士会高兴得知，拟议中的《网络安全（救济与问责）法案》将于今年晚些时候提交议会。该法案将设立一个名为网络安全委员会（OSC）的新机构，帮助受害者及时获得帮助。
网络安全委员会计划于2026年上半年成立。受害者可请求OSC发出指令，要求平台删除冒犯性内容。平台还必须删除平台上现有的相同内容——这是当初平台拒绝为Jane做的。
新法还将帮助受害者追究施害者责任。如果受害者想起诉施害者，可以请求OSC指令平台提供施害者信息。
在起草新法律时，法律部长和数字发展部（MDDI）已与来自产业界、学术界、社区团体及国际合作伙伴的广泛利益相关者进行了接触。我们也邀请公众提供反馈。公众咨询的结果已发布在“全民积极公民@家”（REACH）网站上。
我们对公众的强烈支持和有益反馈感到鼓舞，这将有助于完善我们的提案。鉴于数字空间的复杂性和广阔性，仅靠规则和法规是不够的。每个人都有责任发挥作用。国务部长拉哈尤将分享公民如何保护自己在网络上的安全。
先生，首相在预算陈述中提到全球环境更加不确定，且下行风险增加。这一点在数字领域也有所体现，网络威胁日益严重。犯罪团伙越来越多地在线寻求非法利益。与某些国家相关的高级持续性威胁（APT）行为者积极推动其国家议程。
我们在网络空间中见证了这两类活动。去年，发现了一个全球僵尸网络，包含全球范围内被感染的服务器和设备。更多细节可见资料。直到新加坡网络安全局（CSA）参与了一项国际行动以破坏该僵尸网络，约有2700台新加坡设备被感染，设备所有者对此毫不知情。恶意行为者利用不良的网络卫生习惯感染设备，包括婴儿监视器和互联网路由器。
议员们可能会问，如果该僵尸网络持续存在会怎样？这意味着设备易受攻击，设备所有者的个人数据可能被窃取。更令人担忧的是，这些设备可能被用作待命军队，就像我们的全职国民服役人员一样，随时准备投入战斗。只不过在这种情况下，是外国国家相关行为者利用这些僵尸设备进行恶意活动，目标可能指向新加坡境内。
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正如陈佩玲女士强调的，国际合作在应对如此复杂的威胁中至关重要。CSA之所以能够行动，是因为其具备公认的能力，并且其合作伙伴信任其参与这项国际行动。
僵尸网络只是我们需要防御的众多网络威胁之一。这就是为什么我们强调需要在多个层面保障我们的网络安全。
对于个人，我们将继续与产业伙伴合作，提供更好的保护。一个例子是谷歌Play Protect下的增强欺诈保护功能。常见的诈骗手法是诱使受害者从非官方渠道下载应用程序，这些应用可能向我们的设备注入恶意软件。通过该功能，Android设备上的此类下载尝试将被阻止。
对于组织，政府正在改进新加坡网络安全计划。高级国务部长陈杰豪稍后将分享更多细节。
我们也同意沙拉尔·塔哈先生关于提升国家网络安全态势的必要性。去年，CSA修订了《网络安全法》，要求关键基础设施（CII）所有者报告更多类别的网络事件。我们还将CSA的监管范围从关键基础设施扩展到其他重要系统和实体，如云服务和数据中心。修订预计将于今年晚些时候生效。更多信息见资料。
除了网络安全，我们还计划推出新的《数字基础设施法》，以增强数字基础设施的安全性和韧性。高级国务部长贾尼尔·普图切里稍后将分享更多内容。
我担心的是那些未被此类立法覆盖、未足够重视网络安全的组织。值得庆幸的是，已有超过500个组织认识到网络安全的重要性，并通过获得网络基础认证和网络信任标志采取了行动。但我们应在全国范围内提升网络安全基线标准，保护更多组织，尤其是高风险组织。
因此，CSA正在评估是否需要更多措施，特别是针对可能获得政府敏感数据或系统访问权限的供应商。这些供应商包括网络安全渗透测试公司和网络安全审计机构。可能的措施包括要求这些供应商及其分包商在获得政府许可或参与政府合同投标前，必须取得网络基础认证或网络信任标志。
政府也可能带头将网络安全纳入采购决策。鉴于这些措施的影响可能不小，CSA计划在决定前与产业界进行沟通。
先生，现在让我转向最后一个主题。我们与议员们一样担忧，人工智能驱动的工具，如深度伪造，可能被滥用造成伤害。这就是为什么我们通过了《选举（网络广告诚信）（修订）法》，以保护新加坡人在选举期间免受AI生成虚假信息的威胁。
我们还在制定新的行为准则，要求社交媒体公司防止和应对虚假内容的滥用。这些措施虽然重要，但仍不足以应对网络上虚假信息的泛滥。面对虚假信息的浪潮，我们必须拥有可信赖的信息来源。
值得庆幸的是，我们的公共服务媒体（PSM）实体仍是许多新加坡人获取可信新闻的首选。《海峡时报》和CNA是我们访问量最高的在线新闻平台之一，每周有超过40%的新加坡人阅读。更重要的是，公众对主流媒体的信任度依然很高，CNA和《海峡时报》分别获得74%和73%的信任率。相比之下，其他国家的主流新闻信任度下降，徘徊在60%或以下。
许多新加坡人，包括苏翰妮女士和沙拉尔·塔哈先生，赞赏Mediacorp和SPH Media适应观众偏好的努力。在激烈的竞争、新闻疲劳和社交媒体平台不透明算法的环境下，两家公司致力于扩大受众覆盖。
然而，收入下降迫使它们的新闻编辑部进行调整。SPH Media停止出版中文娱乐杂志《U-Weekly》。去年十月，Mediacorp将TODAY Online与CNA数字新闻编辑部合并。
普里坦·辛格先生表达了对SPH Media表现的担忧。与全球新闻机构一样，随着读者转向在线新闻，SPH Media的纸质订阅量下降。然而，包括新加坡在内的发达国家中，支付数字新闻订阅的消费者不到20%。本质上，他们可以免费获取，并将继续免费享受此类服务。
在不透露商业敏感信息的前提下，我可以分享，SPH Media的数字订阅保持稳定，现已比纸质订阅高出35%。两年前这一差距仅为20%。由此可见转变。SPH Media必须继续向数字新闻转型，政府必须支持这一努力，使我们的公共服务媒体实体能够在观众所在的平台上与他们接触。
尽管去年未能达到所有关键绩效指标（KPI），SPH Media并未要求降低目标。他们决心保持与新加坡人的覆盖率和相关性。2024年，他们保持了强劲的整体覆盖率，达到新加坡常住人口的70%，尽管青年和方言受众有所下降。根据资助协议，数字发展部将按比例发放绩效挂钩奖励。
我想稍微回应普里坦·辛格先生关于比较CNA和《海峡时报》的评论。我尊重地建议议员们，比较时应避免过度简化。因为我们必须记住，CNA主要是我们的国家广播机构及数字新闻频道，而SPH Media信托（SMT）的大部分资产仍以纸质为主，尽管有数字版本，它们定位为国家级的权威报纸。因此，两者不同且互补。我谦虚地建议议员们整体看待公共服务媒体的表现。因为实际上，我们需要所有这些媒体来覆盖尽可能多的新加坡人。这是值得铭记的。
如前所述，CNA和《海峡时报》仍是访问量最高的新闻频道。对公共服务媒体可持续性表示关切的议员们会同意，覆盖率等KPI很重要，但它们并非评估公共服务媒体实体表现和效果的唯一方式。同样，我们必须关注它们从公众中获得的信任度和满意度。这些将是我们计划引入的额外KPI。
同时，我也想指出广播电视面临的威胁，消费者正转向YouTube或Netflix等平台。
即使公共服务媒体实体进入这些平台，国外经验表明，数字环境中的位置和算法对它们不利。英国和澳大利亚等国因此制定了新规则，要求智能电视预装公共服务媒体应用，如BBC iPlayer或ABC iview，并在用户界面上显著展示这些应用。
鉴于公共服务媒体在告知、教育和连接新加坡人方面的重要作用，我们必须非常关注其可见性不被第三方平台的决策所掩盖。我们的公共服务媒体内容必须保持可见且易于观众访问。因此，数字发展部正在研究其他国家的监管举措，以保障公共服务媒体的突出性和可发现性。我们将在决定下一步措施前，咨询产业利益相关者，包括设备制造商。
先生，请允许我用中文作结。
（中文）：[请参阅方言演讲。] 主席先生，新加坡是一个高度开放和数字化的国家。新加坡人可以通过各种平台获取信息——无论是小红书、Facebook、Netflix还是爱奇艺，这些都是许多新加坡人熟悉的平台。
然而，随着接收信息的增多，我们辨别信息的能力是增强了还是减弱了？社会是更加团结还是日益分裂？这些都是值得深思的问题。事实上，在地缘政治竞争加剧的时代，限制我们传播自身叙事的能力，不利于维护我们的国家立场和身份认同感。
在这方面，公共服务媒体，如Mediacorp和联合早报，发挥着关键作用。只有它们会从新加坡的视角报道新闻并分析国际事件及其对我们的影响。因此，政府正在探索使公共服务媒体内容在新媒体环境中更易于新加坡人获取的方法。
当然，社会凝聚力的威胁并非数字时代唯一的担忧。因此，有人问我，鉴于数字世界的危险，新加坡是否应放缓或暂停数字化进程？确实，虽然新加坡在物理世界非常安全，但数字世界无明确边界，充满风险。
然而，新加坡是一个资源有限的小国。在激烈的全球竞争时代，数字化是克服限制、持续繁荣的关键。在数字化旅程中，不进则退。政府必须采取明智策略，帮助公民和企业提升数字技能，加强网络安全意识。
只有这样，新加坡才能抓住数字时代的新机遇，我们的工人才能前进，获得更好的就业机会。
主席：高级国务部长贾尼尔·普图切里。
贾尼尔·普图切里博士：主席先生，感谢各位议员的发言和提问，我希望今天的回应能涵盖陈洁仪女士、陈佩玲女士、王华汉先生、沙拉尔·塔哈先生、陈丹尼斯先生和玛丽亚姆·贾法尔女士提出的意见。
先生，信任是我们智慧国度（Smart Nation）努力的核心。我们的公民和企业必须确信，他们依赖的数字系统和服务，以及他们参与的互动和交易，是值得信赖的。
我将说明数字发展部建立这种信任的方法：通过确保关键数字基础设施的韧性、安全和未来适应性，以及推动政府采用人工智能和创新以造福公众。
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政府已有法规以降低数字基础设施和服务面临的风险，包括网络攻击和服务中断。例如，根据《电信法》，信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）要求宽带和移动网络运营商采取积极措施，减少中断。数字服务也有行业法规，如新加坡金融管理局（MAS）对金融机构的信息技术韧性和安全要求。
但数字领域更为广阔且不断演变。数字基础设施，如数据中心和云服务，已成为支持许多功能的重要支柱，包括电子银行和支付、网约车、电子商务和数字身份。这些功能使公民能够满足日常需求，且便捷高效，帮助企业成长。然而，数字基础设施规模和复杂性的增长，也意味着网络攻击面扩大，硬件故障、配置错误等问题导致中断的风险增加。一旦发生中断，影响更大，因为这些服务的使用率不断提高。
去年，我们修订了《网络安全法》，以应对运营环境中的新挑战。预计今年晚些时候生效的修订，将赋予CSA更大权力，确保关键基础设施（CII）之外的重要实体和系统的网络安全，包括数据中心和云服务。这将提升新加坡及其数字经济的信任和信心。我们也希望CII所有者借此机会审视其商业模式，鼓励他们采用新技术，如商业云解决方案。
除了网络威胁，我们还必须防范中断数字基础设施和服务访问的风险，包括火灾等物理危害，以及硬件故障和系统配置错误等不易察觉的风险。这些风险源于我们对数字基础设施和服务的依赖。我们无法完全消除风险，因此必须通过减少中断发生率和影响来增强应对能力。
我们正努力于今年推出一部新法案，名为《数字基础设施法》，以提升新加坡的数字韧性和安全。该法案针对基础数字基础设施，首先涵盖主要云服务提供商和数据中心。法案将要求主要运营商实施措施，维护其韧性和安全，最大限度减少中断。
我们正在研究要求主要运营商向政府报告中断事件的规定，以便更好地从事件中学习和改进，并在需要时支持响应和恢复工作。自2024年中起，我们已向数字基础设施提供商及其部分客户征求意见。
IMDA最近发布了针对云服务提供商和数据中心的指导性建议。这些指南包含我们与利益相关者协商的关键措施。指南鼓励数据中心运营商建立健全的业务连续性体系，确保为企业客户提供高可用性。云服务提供商也被鼓励管理数据安全风险，确保业务连续性规划。许多供应商，包括微软、Equinix和吉宝，以及它们的企业客户，都表示支持这些符合国际标准且适用的指导性建议。
我们还加强了政府系统的韧性，确保新加坡人在与政府在线互动时拥有信任和信心。我们提升了各机构使用的中央系统的韧性，过去一年这些系统的服务可用性从95%提升至99.5%。我们将继续推广工具，提升政府应用的韧性，包括监控系统正常运行时间的工具。
鉴于韧性措施会产生成本，我们的策略必须精准。我们将支持提供重要服务的机构在适当情况下实施更复杂的措施。
政府需要管理对个人信息的访问，因为这些信息可能被诈骗手法利用。我们致力于确保包括个人数据在内的数据得到谨慎和负责任的管理。
在政府提供涉及数据的数字服务时，各机构必须评估每个使用案例中利益与风险的平衡，实现服务可及性和数据保护的双重目标，符合数字发展部提供的指导原则和保障措施。
先生，我们的数字基础设施不仅必须安全且具备韧性，还要为新加坡的未来做好准备。去年，我们宣布信息通信媒体发展局（IMDA）将投资高达1亿新元升级全国宽带网络（NBN）。这将使宽带速度达到目前大多数家庭的10倍。运营商开始以更低的价格提供更高速的宽带服务。现在10GB的套餐价格在30至70新元之间，而一年前则超过100新元。
发展面向未来的数字基础设施还意味着在追求增长的同时解决资源限制问题。我们必须探索支持新加坡人工智能（AI）雄心的方式，同时坚持我们的气候承诺，并平衡数字基础设施增长与环境可持续性。
IMDA去年推出了绿色数据中心路线图，指导数据中心提高能源效率并使用绿色能源，以可持续地扩大AI计算能力。我们取得了良好进展。例如，建筑与建设局（BCA）与IMDA于去年十月更新了数据中心绿色标志标准，提高了数据中心可持续性的要求。IMDA还于去年十二月推出了数据中心能源效率补助金，支持企业升级为更节能的IT设备。
IMDA正在进一步探索通过法规提升数据中心可持续性的途径。我们正在研究其他司法管辖区的做法，并与业界进行早期接触，以制定适合新加坡背景的框架。
先生，作为数字政府，我们必须以身作则。我们必须继续建设公共部门的能力，创造和试验AI，开发以公民为中心的解决方案。
我们已在公共服务内部提供了顶级的AI和大型语言模型（LLM）工具的访问权限。Pair Chat是一款快速且安全的生成式AI助手，目前已有超过半数的公共服务人员使用。去年，我们举办了全政府的提示工程竞赛，吸引了超过1,040名公务员参加。能够举办政府内部的提示工程竞赛，并有如此多的公务员参与，这本身就显示了我们数字政府的独特之处。
决赛选手被要求在10分钟内使用大型语言模型工具构建一个活动宣传网站。比赛冠军是新加坡民防部队（SCDF）的消防员穆罕默德·奈姆·宾·扎哈里，他当时刚完成一场24小时的轮班。第二名是人力部（MOM）的财务官员Rachel Tiang。他们都不是从事AI技术工作的人员，但他们和所有参赛者都能在10分钟内利用这些AI和LLM增强工具构建出功能性宣传网站。
我们积极让非技术公务员参与数字产品的创造。去年，新加坡政府科技局（GovTech）举办了首届公务员黑客马拉松系列活动，名为LAUNCH!计划，收集了600多个创意，孵化了26个创新原型。例如，两名小学教师和一名GovTech官员组成的团队原型开发了一个AI工具，为学生的口语技能表现提供即时定制反馈。
我们还在探索如何让公务员利用AI更好更快地创新。最近的“为公共利益黑客马拉松”中，一个名为Spaceship的原型工具旨在降低公务员原型开发的难度。Spaceship允许公务员使用AI代理构建和部署功能齐全的原型应用，包括基于LLM的工具，且只需使用普通英语。这是一个帮助非技术公务员用普通英语在几分钟内从想法到可用应用的工具。
先生，我试用了这个原型，尝试让它编写一个限制议员发言时长的门户网站。它在电子表格中设置了相应的过滤器，但我认为这就是目前技术的极限了。
随着政府中AI使用的增加，理解并减轻AI应用中的风险至关重要。GovTech正在建设能力，确保政府的生成式AI应用安全推向市场。
我们有Litmus，一款用于AI安全和安全性测试的工具。我们策划了一套测试，确保我们的AI应用能抵御误导用户或造成声誉损害的风险。Litmus与IMDA的Moonshot合作开发，将于今年推出。通过与各机构的测试，我们看到Litmus能够提前发现潜在的安全问题，使我们能够主动采取行动。基本上，这是AI测试即服务。
Litmus提供AI风险诊断，但一旦检测到风险，我们还需要解决方案。在AI领域，护栏确保AI系统在伦理、法律和功能边界内运行。我们正在构建Sentinel平台，为政府的AI应用提供护栏即服务。产品团队可以从精选的护栏列表中选择，包括顶级AI开发者的护栏和本地化的LionGuard，并轻松集成到应用中。Sentinel已能准确识别试图渗透系统或诱使AI模型产生不当输出的行为。
Litmus和Sentinel展示了我们希望开发安全可用的政府生成式AI应用，包括供公众使用的应用。
先生，我们的数字基础设施支撑着公民和企业依赖的关键功能。因此，我们积极投资提升关键数字基础设施的安全性、韧性和面向未来的能力。我们也持续建设公共部门能力，拥抱AI的试验和创新，更好地服务新加坡人。我希望这将建立公众对我们数字未来的信任，助力我们继续推进智慧国之旅。
主席：高级国务部长陈杰豪。
数字发展与信息高级国务部长（陈杰豪先生）：主席，我们希望新加坡人能享有良好的就业、优厚的薪酬和更好的工作环境。为实现这些目标，我们的企业必须在快速数字化中保持竞争力。我们已打下良好基础。数字经济从2018年到2023年的复合年增长率为11.2%。我们正通过去年推出的NAIS 2.0和数字企业蓝图（DEB），帮助工人和企业抓住下一波数字化浪潮，特别是在AI领域。
田佩玲女士和沙拉尔·塔哈先生询问了NAIS 2.0的进展。我们看到令人鼓舞的进展。去年，超过26个人工智能卓越中心成立，推动AI创新和应用的前沿。
例如，礼来的数字健康创新中心将加速AI驱动的数字健康技术研发，帮助医生更好地理解患者需求，提供个性化护理。另一个例子是金融服务领域，保诚的全球AI实验室孵化工具以提升客户体验和员工效率。该实验室还将与高等院校合作，为学生提供实践学习机会。
总理在预算演讲中宣布的企业计算倡议将帮助在新加坡设立更多卓越中心，支持更多创新AI应用。
我们也看到更多组织利用AI造福公众。例如，国家公园局正在探索由“为公益而建”黑客马拉松参与者开发的名为KOEL的AI应用，利用生物声学帮助进行生物多样性调查。借助KOEL，研究人员可以从音频记录中识别动物物种，节省数千工时，提高效率和准确性。
另一个例子是iFerret。这是部署在樟宜机场的AI检测系统，帮助保障跑道安全。过去需要每日人工检查，现在工作人员可以依赖全天候自动扫描跑道上的异物，快速清除。
田佩玲女士、陈洁莹女士、沙拉尔·塔哈先生和玛丽亚姆·贾法尔女士询问我们如何帮助企业，尤其是中小企业（SMEs），从AI中受益。通过“中小企业数字化计划”等举措，自2017年以来，我们已帮助约10万家中小企业，过去四年中有4万家受益。
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采用至少一项数字解决方案用于一般业务功能的中小企业比例从2020年的53%提升至2024年的84%，非常令人鼓舞。平均而言，2018年至2023年间通过生产力解决方案补助金（PSG）采用数字解决方案的中小企业，每项解决方案平均节省成本48%。
德里克·吴先生和克里斯托弗·德索萨先生分别向我们提交了他们的发言摘要。他们会高兴地知道，我们致力于加速中小企业的AI采用。
我们正在更新行业数字计划（IDPs），纳入行业特定的AI工具和培训。零售、安全、建筑环境、法律和旅游行业的计划已完成更新。今年我们将更新更多行业计划，如餐饮和酒店行业。2024年，超过33万用户访问了首席技术官即服务（CTO-as-a-Service）平台，帮助近3,000家中小企业采用AI解决方案。在约300个PSG预批准解决方案中，约30%为AI驱动。
去年，我们推出了生成式AI沙盒，允许中小企业试验13种生成式AI解决方案，以提升营销和销售，简化客户互动。
超过150名参与者之一是AHA Inspiration，一家健康与保健服务平台提供商。通过将生成式AI聊天机器人集成到其网站和移动应用，AHA员工现在能几乎以两倍速度处理客户咨询，同时提供更个性化的服务。AHA Inspiration是120家在三个月沙盒期后继续使用生成式AI解决方案的中小企业之一。沙盒经验强化了通过试验让中小企业发现生成式AI价值的重要性。
基于此成功，IMDA于去年十二月推出了生成式AI沙盒2.0，提供14种解决方案，支持更广泛的生成式AI应用，如生成式网页设计，帮助中小企业通过提示创建网站。中小企业还可尝试用于人力资源操作的生成式AI工具，如创建职位描述和安排面试。如果这些生成式AI解决方案被证明有用，我们计划将其加入预批准解决方案列表，让所有中小企业受益。
我们也收到反馈，沙盒提供行业特定解决方案可能更有用。IMDA乐意与相关行业负责人和行业协会合作策划这些解决方案。
除了对所有中小企业的广泛支持外，我们还通过生成式AI x 数字领导者（Gen AI x DL）计划，借助科技巨头的能力，加速数字化成熟企业的生成式AI采用。这些企业可能需要定制化解决方案，现成产品无法完全满足。
迄今为止，已有超过120家企业使用科技巨头及其合作伙伴提供的资源，其中四分之一正在构建和部署这些解决方案。
例如，iHub Solutions是一家第三方物流服务提供商。iHub员工面临大量临时报告请求，手动制作报告耗时且易出错。通过该计划，iHub利用技术合作伙伴的专业知识开发了基于AI的报告生成工具。借助该工具，员工可通过简单提示自动生成报告，报告制作时间减少一半。iHub客户也可利用该工具获取实时供应链洞察，辅助决策。
为抓住大规模部署生成式AI解决方案的机会，IMDA将扩大生成式AI x 数字领导者合作，利用技术合作伙伴的新开发工具和预打包软件模块，更快部署常见用例解决方案。该计划正在试点，准备好后将分享更多细节。
田佩玲女士还询问政府如何鼓励更多企业采用生成式AI。我们认识到企业面临不同挑战。
基于早期采用者的经验和最佳实践，IMDA将推出面向企业的生成式AI手册，涵盖不同数字成熟阶段。刚开始探索生成式AI的企业，手册通过案例说明生成式AI的好处，并提供针对特定需求的生成式AI解决方案资源。
对于在购买现成解决方案和构建专有解决方案之间犹豫的企业，手册提供评估框架和相关风险信息，帮助其做出明智选择。对于数字成熟企业寻求定制解决方案，手册提供技术能力和合作伙伴见解，确保成功实施，并涵盖潜在风险和治理考量。手册适合所有企业。
配合手册，IMDA将推出在线工具生成式AI导航器，为特定业务需求推荐合适的生成式AI解决方案。导航器还将指向有补助支持的解决方案和SkillsFuture Singapore（SSG）资助的培训，帮助中小企业了解如何利用生成式AI实现增长。这些工具从今天起在CTO-as-a-Service平台上线。
主席，请允许我用普通话发言。
（普通话）：[请参阅方言发言。] 在政府的支持和推动下，超过80%的中小企业已成功乘上数字化浪潮。这些企业涵盖多个行业，均采用了至少一项数字解决方案并取得积极成效。许多企业也发现AI能帮助降低成本、提升效率，从而缓解成本压力。
2018年至2023年间，生产力解决方案补助金支持的数字解决方案平均为中小企业带来近50%的成本节约。为了让更多企业受益，政府将刷新各行业数字计划，提供更多AI解决方案。同时，我们将推出新的生成式AI企业手册和导航器，推荐适合其需求的生成式AI工具和培训。有兴趣的企业可访问CTO-as-a-Service平台了解详情。
AI的广泛采用已显著影响我们的工作和生活。本地企业和员工必须跟上步伐，保持竞争力，避免落后。因此，我呼吁大家抓紧时间，充分利用政府的支持和资源提升数字能力。只有这样，我们才能抓住技术发展带来的机遇，在竞争中脱颖而出。
（英文）：主席，随着企业数字化，它们将面临更多网络威胁。沙拉尔·塔哈先生询问我们如何帮助企业保持安全。
网络安全局（CSA）的新加坡网络安全计划为企业提供差异化支持。作为基础，CSA为各类企业利益相关者提供资源，如中小企业主、员工和网络安全人员。希望实施网络安全措施的企业可参考2022年制定的国家网络安全标准——网络基础和网络信任认证标志。
为协助需要网络安全认证的企业，CSA于2023年推出了首席信息安全官（CISO）即服务计划。该计划补充了IMDA的CTO即服务计划，聘请网络安全顾问帮助企业制定网络安全健康计划，实施网络基础中的预防措施。该计划已惠及270多家企业，我们将继续努力提升企业网络卫生标准。
去年，我们将中小企业数字化计划与网络基础认证标志对齐。在预批准解决方案中，中小企业现在可订阅涵盖反恶意软件、防火墙和备份的综合套餐。我们还要求中小企业数字化计划下的预批准解决方案满足最低数据保护和安全控制标准。
未来，CSA将在2025年上半年扩大网络基础和网络信任认证，涵盖云计算和AI等数字技术的安全，确保其适应不断变化的数字环境。
除了提升标准，CSA还将为CISO即服务引入事件后报告和响应功能。网络安全事件无法完全预防，企业更需具备韧性并能从事件中恢复。通过该新功能，企业可寻求其CISO即服务顾问的帮助，控制并恢复网络安全事件。议员们可参考资料了解我们在企业数字化和网络安全方面的工作总结。
先生，我的更新到此为止，稍后将回答问题。
主席：数字发展与信息国务部长拉哈尤·马赞。
数字发展与信息国务部长（拉哈尤·马赞女士）：主席，许多人难以想象没有互联网或数字设备的生活。根据MDDI于2023年进行的一项调查，80%的受访者认为保持互联网连接对他们很重要。
使用数字技术来提升我们的生活有健康的方式，也有不健康的方式，这些不健康的方式会让我们面临风险。我的发言将聚焦于MDDI激励我们社区的努力，建设一个公民能够享有日常生活必需的数字服务接入；具备使用数字技术的熟练能力；并通过全社会的共同努力，获得安全、健康和积极的数字体验的社会。我感谢蔡凯思先生对这些努力的关注。
让我先从数字技术的接入说起。新加坡是一个高度互联的国家；98%的常住家庭已接入互联网。但我们必须关注那些有被排除风险的人群。IMDA帮助那些负担不起的人。苏涵怡女士询问了IMDA计划的最新情况。
自2023年以来，DigitalAccess@Home计划已支持超过20,000个低收入家庭，提供补贴宽带接入、笔记本电脑或平板电脑，或同时提供宽带和计算设备。自2020年以来，老年人移动接入计划也支持了超过15,000个补贴智能手机和移动套餐，或仅移动套餐的低收入老年人。
除了连接和设备，日常数字服务需要用户友好。对于一些新加坡人，如老年人和残疾人士，使用未针对其需求设计的服务可能具有挑战性。设计良好的网站或应用程序可以带来巨大差异。这就是为什么Singpass在2022年进行了增强，支持暗模式和屏幕阅读器等功能，使视力障碍者更容易使用Singpass。
严伟杰先生询问了在这方面更多的努力。政府非常重视包容性设计，政府机构在设计数字服务时应以用户为中心。GovTech将加大对机构的支持力度。
今年，我们正在更新指导机构设计用户友好数字服务的数字服务标准（DSS）。更新后的DSS将更好地向机构解释国际标准，如网页内容无障碍指南（WCAG），并提供如何满足这些标准的建议。此外，将更加强调在高流量政府网站上线前进行用户测试，以确保其用户友好。
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我们还推出了机构可用来支持包容性设计的工具。例如，GovTech开发了Oobee工具，前称Purple A11y，利用机器人帮助机构测试其网站的易用性并提出改进建议。GovTech将继续增强这些工具，帮助机构识别和解决相关问题。这些努力为机构提供了更强的指导和支持，使其开发的数字服务无论年龄或数字能力如何，都易于使用。
GovTech将为拥有高流量数字服务的机构提供专门支持。但政府无法单独推动这项工作。如今，新加坡人每天使用各种商业数字服务。私营部门在设计用户友好数字服务中扮演重要角色。我们希望鼓励并与他们合作。
我之前提到的Oobee工具是开源的，私营企业可免费使用。我们鼓励更多企业利用该工具。
去年，GovTech举办了首届共创实验室，汇集了政府机构、私营企业及社区用户代表。我们欣慰地看到许多合作伙伴积极了解老年人和残疾人在使用数字服务时面临的挑战，如电子支付、使用叫车应用和预约医疗服务。这些对话帮助服务提供者识别改进服务的方向，使其更用户友好。共创实验室展示了加强公私及民间部门合作的必要性。
MDDI将与来自公私及民间部门的合作伙伴成立工作组，共同创造和共同推动更用户友好的数字服务举措。该工作组的详情将稍后公布。
在提升数字服务用户友好性的同时，我们也认识到部分新加坡人需要实体支持以访问政府服务。陈武明博士和潘淑仪女士在预算辩论中提及此点，严伟杰先生也在其质询中提出。
需要政府数字交易协助的居民可继续在政府机构的实体服务点获得面对面帮助。受过培训的服务大使将协助数字能力较弱的个人完成交易。居民也可前往ServiceSG中心，获得600项常用政府服务和计划的帮助。政府将继续以公民为中心，提供非数字选项，确保无人被排除。
接下来谈谈数字技能。三分之二的新加坡人具备基本数字技能，能够在线完成日常任务，如购买商品和服务、搜索信息及使用智能手机进行无接触支付。
为了为数字未来做好准备，新加坡人还需学习新技术，如生成式人工智能（Gen AI），它能帮助我们完成日常任务。正如潘淑仪女士在预算辩论中强调的，这种技能提升至关重要。否则，随着生成式人工智能的广泛应用，例如许多企业使用聊天机器人提供客户服务，可能会让人感到陌生和恐惧。为了解除对生成式人工智能的神秘感，我们必须了解其风险和局限，并学会负责任地使用它。政府将继续支持数字能力较弱的公民。
严伟杰先生和苏涵怡女士询问了“老年人数字化”计划。SG数字办公室（SDO）将继续根据“生活数字技能”（DSL）框架，帮助公民掌握日常生活所需的数字技能。这有助于防止数字孤立，正如翁瑞秋小姐在预算辩论中提出的。
自2020年以来，SDO已培训超过370,000名老年人。截至2023年，96%的老年人在线交流，高于2017年的87%。
IMDA将增强DSL框架，加入生成式人工智能内容，解释其基础知识、风险及管理方法，以及日常应用，如生成餐饮推荐或休闲活动建议。有兴趣的学习者可报名参加SDO工作坊，或通过“数字生活门户”自学。许多新加坡人也热衷于拥抱如人工智能等新技术。
严伟杰先生询问了图书馆鼓励技术采用的新举措。未来几年，我们的公共图书馆将推出展示，供公众体验生成式人工智能的应用。我们希望这些展示能体现人工智能在日常生活中的实用价值，激发公民对这些可能性的兴趣，同时帮助他们理解局限并学会负责任地使用人工智能。生成式人工智能是有用的工具，但不能替代学习或原创思考。
这些只是公民在国家图书馆理事会（NLB）庆祝2025年30周年时可享受的部分活动。NLB将举办一系列“NLB30”活动，纪念30年及以后赋能新加坡人共同阅读、学习和发现。更多详情将于今年晚些时候公布。主席先生，我将用马来语说几句话。
（马来语）：[请参阅本地语演讲。] 学习使用尖端技术的最佳方式之一是与志同道合的人一起学习。
一个开创性的举措是Lorong AI社区中心，为拥有相似兴趣和技能的人工智能爱好者提供空间，共同探索如何推动人工智能发展。通过该平台，他们交流想法，讨论最新发现，制作原型，探索人工智能在日常生活中的应用。
穆罕默德·扎哈里·阿布·塔利布先生在Lorong AI中扮演关键角色。作为社区负责人，他帮助连接个人，发起讨论，联络各团体。我亲自感受到他们的学习、分享和协作热情，当时我参加了Lorong AI组织的“人工智能星期三”分享会。
在我们的马来/穆斯林社区，许多人已开始探索人工智能。一个名为PEREKA的团体，由来自各领域的马来/穆斯林设计师组成，分享了他们如何利用人工智能提升工作。我最近有机会与他们会面，听到他们如何利用人工智能优化工作流程，我感到非常兴奋。
目标不是取代人类创造力，而是促进构思过程和信息收集。所有这些都是为了设计符合我们文化价值和身份的设计特征，同时确保人文关怀贯穿整个设计过程。
我真诚希望更多像这样的充满活力的本地团体涌现，他们可以共同学习，激发有趣的想法，利用技术造福新加坡人。
（英语）：主席先生，现在让我谈谈我们如何装备未来一代以受益于生成式人工智能。我们已有“编程乐趣”计划，面向所有小学和中学，向学生介绍通过编码进行计算思维，以及通过数字创作进行创新思维。今年起，“编程乐趣”计划将纳入新的“人工智能乐趣”模块，提供学生动手操作人工智能技术的机会。
例如，小学生将学习如何使用适当的生成式人工智能平台生成故事和图像，制作数字故事板。学生将被教授生成式人工智能的风险，如偏见和幻觉，以及核对人工智能生成内容的必要性。
今年约60%的小学和40%的中学将引入“人工智能乐趣”课程。我们的目标是确保每位新加坡人，无论年龄大小，都被鼓励以知情和负责任的方式学习、使用并享受新技术。
这引出了网络安全话题。网络上发生的事件，如生成和传播深度伪造裸照，造成现实生活中的伤害，是不可接受的。2024年约74%的新加坡人遇到过有害的网络内容。这导致一些人对互联网感到恐惧，担心它似乎正在改变我们社会的结构。但重要的是认识到，这些伤害不是技术本身造成的，而是由不良行为者和不良行为引起的。
政府将尽力减少网络风险。张玉娟部长早前谈及我们的法规，要求指定的社交媒体服务和应用分发服务采取安全措施，保护用户免受有害内容影响。
然而，法规并非万无一失。正如蔡伟杰先生指出，其他国家考虑的禁令和年龄限制听起来有说服力，但实际上总有规避这些规则和限制的方法。
公民也必须采取措施保护自己和亲人。家长在引导孩子的数字旅程中扮演关键角色。政府理解家长对儿童过度使用屏幕和暴露于网络风险的担忧。
卫生部在“健康成长新加坡”和“健康育儿倡议”下更新了屏幕使用指导，帮助家长更好地保护孩子免受不当内容影响，培养良好的屏幕使用习惯。家长还可在IMDA的“数字生活”门户找到简明资源。议员们可参阅资料单了解这些资源清单。今年晚些时候还将推出关于技术和社交媒体的积极使用指南。
青年是塑造网络行为和文化的关键群体。应鼓励青年利用其影响力营造积极的网络环境。我在新加坡管理大学最近举办的数字健康巡展中看到学生们倡导更友善的互联网，感到鼓舞。一个展位展示了互动游戏，教参与者如何在网络对话中以关怀和善意回应朋友。两天的巡展吸引了超过650名学生参与。
有害的网络言论令人担忧，因为它削弱了我们相互理解的能力，破坏了社会凝聚力。正如严伟杰先生提到的，我们必须在网络空间保持公民意识，就像我们在社区、公园和学校等共享实体空间中的行为一样。
政府致力于探索新方法，培育积极的网络空间。我们将研究网络极化等可能负面影响社会凝聚力的问题，探索鼓励网络积极性和公民意识的方式。
政府的工作中，了解社区情绪非常重要。这使我们能准确识别新加坡人的关切，并符合响应型政府的期望。
严伟杰先生分享了他对调查的经历，并询问是否由政府委托。不幸的是，海报未向严先生披露调查委托方身份。未见实际问卷，难以确定调查是否由政府进行。
在MDDI的情况下，我们定期进行民意调查，了解公众对诈骗的认知、主流及网络媒体质量及公众新闻消费习惯。若受访者询问，我们代表会说明调查由MDDI委托。
我们进行媒体调查，帮助政府机构调整公共传播工作，更好地触及关键国家政策的目标群体，也帮助塑造公共广播资金。诈骗调查结果帮助MDDI制定应对网络危害的政策。
政府委托调查的结果——
主席：拉哈尤国务部长，您可能想做总结。
拉哈尤·马哈赞女士：是的，只剩两段。
政府委托调查的结果在有益时会公开分享。但因调查主要用于制定公共政策，并非所有结果适合公开发布。
关于严伟杰先生担忧政府委托调查可能被用于非公共政策目的，此类调查资金须遵守与政府机构其他公共支出相同的治理要求。
总结，主席先生，我们邀请所有人——个人、企业和社区组织——成为“数字生活”运动的伙伴，加入我们，共同帮助新加坡建设包容且有凝聚力的数字社会。我们每个人都有责任让我们的网络空间安全、健康和积极。
主席：陈佩玲女士。
陈佩玲女士：主席，我有三点澄清。首先，听到为更好保护新加坡人免受网络危害而采取的多项措施令人欣慰。我还想了解更多已做或将做的工作，以保护公民免受诈骗，让他们感到安全、有能力并更有信心在线互动和交易，这也是我们谈论的信任的一部分。
第二，关于DeepSeek。主席，我想问从最近出现的DeepSeek中吸取了哪些教训，因为它被宣传为更便宜、更环保，以及对我们新加坡的影响，是否可能提炼出独特的新加坡特色。
最后，关于资助本地语媒体，我认为本地语媒体在国际上展示新加坡声音和观点方面具有战略作用。例如，《联合早报》在某些地区或区域拥有强大影响力和网络，对维护我们的观点非常有用。
因此，我想问这方面的资助支持是否会继续或加强，我们还会做些什么来提升这方面，以加强新加坡在世界舞台上的地位。
张玉娟女士：主席，首先感谢陈女士对我们工作的认可，特别是她对保护本地语媒体重要性的肯定。
如果我们考虑继续在国际舞台上展示新加坡声音的需要，实际上本地语媒体的角色更加突出。因此，我希望认可她的肯定并予以确认。
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公共服务媒体资金支持的大部分用于帮助我们的公共服务媒体实体在数字时代保持相关性，因此技术升级至关重要。但我们始终坚持同时支持优质新闻，这涵盖所有语言媒介。特别是考虑到本地语媒体的国内市场实际上很小，他们需要额外支持。因此，与公共服务媒体实体的共识是，他们必须预留足够资源，关键绩效指标也会跟踪本地语媒体的表现。
我认为他们在关键绩效指标（KPI）上的表现，不仅仅是看他们的业绩表现，更是帮助我们了解媒体环境如何变化，以及为了支持方言媒体的持续生存能力还需要做些什么。
让我也回应一下田女士关于信息通信发展局（MDDI）如何支持内政部（MHA）——打击诈骗的主导机构——的问题。我们主要通过两方面来支持：第一，破坏并使诈骗者更难接触到新加坡人，无论是通过电话、短信，还是被恶意软件感染的应用程序，因为这正是受害者上当的方式。这就是我们工作小组内部所称的“攻击因素”。第二，开发技术支持内政部检测和破坏诈骗活动。这就是两大主要支持领域。
为了让议员了解这些努力的成效，2023年，IMDA实施了完整的短信发送者身份注册制度，未注册的短信会被标记为“可能是诈骗”。我相信我们都收到过这样的短信，我个人也收过。这项措施非常有效。该制度实施的前三个月，诈骗短信案件下降了70%，此后保持在较低水平。IMDA还与电信公司合作，加强了网络内对诈骗电话和短信的检测与拦截。
2024年，IMDA阻止了1.17亿个来自海外的潜在诈骗电话，占所有国际电话的约25%。在短信方面，成功阻止了5000万个潜在诈骗短信。IMDA还与电信公司合作，推出了阻止所有来电和短信的功能，意味着从用户角度看，如果我不想冒任何风险，不想仅仅依赖自动拦截功能，我可以选择不接收任何此类电话。截至目前，已有超过28万用户激活了阻止海外电话的功能，近22万用户激活了阻止海外短信的功能。
我在之前的发言中简要提到，我们正与谷歌合作推出增强型防诈骗功能。该功能在新加坡默认开启，已成功阻止了160万次试图安装潜在恶意应用的行为，涉及近40万台设备。如果加上GovTech与新加坡警察部队（SPF）合作，关闭了4.5万个诈骗相关网站，以及IMDA与SPF合作，关闭了超过5.7万个被评估为可能用于诈骗的手机号码，这些都是非常可观的努力。但我们不会止步于此，还在与电信公司和在线平台合作，打击其服务的犯罪滥用。
主席：资政简尼尔。希望答复也能简短，因为我看到有不少举手发言。我真的希望大家保持答复简短。
简尼尔·普图切里博士：主席，感谢田女士的问题。我们仍在研究此事。根据DeepSeek的说法，硬件和软件的优化降低了训练和推理成本，进而使计算更环保，因为所需能量减少，计算量只是一小部分。
如果这是真的，且该公司已将其模型开源，这确实可能是推动资源高效人工智能发展的积极进展。然而，也有反对说法称实际的计算集群可能比报道的要大得多，且可能存在封闭模型的蒸馏。因此，事实尚不清楚，我们仍在研究，以了解如何在新加坡最佳部署计算能力，推动我们的目标。
主席：沙拉尔·塔哈先生。
沙拉尔·塔哈先生：主席，我感谢张部长和团队回答我的发言。我的三个问题。关于部长分享的僵尸网络案件，2700台受影响设备的所有者是否被通知？我们如何防止新加坡的资产被这些僵尸网络利用？
分发的附件提到建议购买带有CSA网络安全标签计划的物联网设备。是否有意让新加坡销售的所有物联网设备都接受CSA标签评估？
其次，给资政简尼尔，即使有前面讨论的优化计算，新加坡的数据中心可持续性要求是否会影响我们在人工智能领域的全球竞争力？考虑到额外的合规成本和即将实施的碳税，这是否可能促使企业在其他地方设立数据中心，使得研究替代能源的时间表更加紧迫？
最后，我的最后一个问题在答复中未被回答。给资政陈杰豪，2024年预算宣布将与业界合作推动人工智能的采用和创新。请问部委能否提供这些与业界合作的最新进展？
主席：谁先回答？是的，有一个给资政简尼尔，一个给资政陈。
简尼尔·普图切里博士：主席，感谢沙拉尔·塔哈先生的问题。关于绿色数据中心的推动是否会影响我们的全球竞争力并推高成本，我们确实需要在合规成本和要求之间取得平衡。但市场对此有很大兴趣，如果我们能做好，这将成为我们的价值增值和潜在竞争力来源，使我们成为技术供应商和云服务提供商设立更环保设施的地方，而他们的客户也在寻找这类解决方案。
因此，虽然我们必须确保在合规成本和绿色推动之间取得正确平衡，但这是我们必须做的，因为我们面临更大的碳排放限制问题。如果做得好，这将成为我们的竞争优势。
陈杰豪先生：主席，在数字企业蓝图合作的第一批合作伙伴中，有七家承诺支持我们的企业和员工，涵盖数字企业蓝图下的各项举措。合作伙伴包括新加坡工商联合会、微软、Salesforce、亚马逊网络服务、星展银行、新加坡计算机学会和SG Tech。截至目前，他们已举办六场活动，提升预先批准供应商在云技术、网络安全和生成式人工智能方面的能力。他们还为近1000家中小企业举办了人工智能和数据分析工作坊，帮助它们在当今技术驱动的商业环境中蓬勃发展。
我们将继续扩大合作伙伴网络。去年11月，我们宣布与星展银行、Enterprise Singapore和IMDA合作，扩大覆盖5万家中小企业，通过加速生成式人工智能的采用提升生产力。沙拉尔·塔哈先生会高兴地知道，我们将分享与新合作伙伴的即将合作，例如与阿里云合作提升解决方案提供商在人工智能和云技术方面的能力，以及与ST工程合作提升中小企业的网络韧性。我们欢迎更多合作伙伴加入，共同打造企业和员工能够蓬勃发展的强大生态系统。
主席：辛格先生。抱歉，张部长，您现在要插话吗？关于第一个问题，是的。
张玉泉女士：主席，针对这类僵尸网络破坏行动，速度至关重要，且要尽可能全面。因此，考虑到这些重要因素，不可能尝试通知所有设备所有者。相反，我们经常建议大家，只要设备连接互联网，就应遵守一些基本的安全习惯：更改默认密码，定期重启或重新启动设备，启用自动固件更新。这些是适用于所有人的一般指导。
在网络安全领域，还有一个说法叫“假设已被入侵”。这是一种必须牢记的心态。你必须保持警惕，假设设备可能已被攻破，并需要定期清理。
主席：普里坦·辛格先生。
普里坦·辛格先生：主席，接着我之前的发言和部长的回应，如果比较我提到的两个标题，CNA和海峡时报，都是严肃的主流英文媒体，公众不可避免地会对哪个质量更高有自己的看法。我认为这没有什么不妥。
我想提出的核心问题是关于关键绩效指标（KPI），这是我发言的标题。如果我没听错，部长说覆盖率是重要的KPI，但不是唯一的KPI。如果我没理解错，部长还说信任度和满意度是部委计划引入的KPI。那么，我能否确认这些KPI目前实际上并未被考虑？
张玉泉女士：主席，当我们决定为任何有用活动提供资金时，我们必须当时考虑哪些是有效的绩效追踪方式，我们非常认真地做这件事。当时讨论支持SPH媒体信托的资金时，覆盖率是重要的KPI之一。随着时间推移，我们也认为参与度很重要，实际上也是KPI之一，但除此之外，我们现在认为信任度和公众满意度同样重要，因此我们会考虑将它们纳入SPH媒体信托的KPI追踪中。
针对议员之前发言中提出的问题，我也简要回应。他问到预算书中包含了什么。我认可他的建议，我们会考虑未来采纳，但要说明的是，像所有部委一样，不可能列出所有KPI。希望议员理解这一点。重要的是，SPH媒体信托非常清楚KPI是我们对话的核心内容，他们对此感受深刻。这是我想说的。
关于海峡时报和CNA的比较，事实是意见会有所不同。如果你问10个人的看法，可能会得到至少15种意见。所以我们认为这是理所当然的。我们会追踪公众对这些媒体信任度的看法，并将继续这样做。正如我在发言和其他场合分享的，它们的表现非常好。
主席：亚历克斯·严先生。
亚历克斯·严先生：谢谢主席。请教资政，您之前详细谈到了国家图书馆局（NLB）以及人工智能的采用。众所周知，人工智能如今非常普及，那么NLB如何确保人工智能的采用尊重作者和内容创作者，当然也不降低创作内容的创造力和辛勤劳动的价值？
下午2点45分
拉哈尤·马哈赞女士：确实，NLB视生成式人工智能为有用工具，致力于提供平台和机会，让公众了解它。但我们也尊重不同利益。公众对不同的人工智能原型表现出强烈兴趣。比如NLB的互动式ChatBook，介绍了S·拉贾拉曼，由生成式人工智能驱动。
因此，NLB采取审慎态度开发此类原型，并实施保障措施，如使用受控数据集，确保获得作者和创作者的版权及许可，并进行广泛测试。这确保人工智能被伦理且负责任地使用，以补充而非取代作者和创作者的努力。
通过这些原型，NLB也希望帮助访客发现作家、故事和内容，并以不同方式体验它们。
主席：贾米尔·吉安先生。
贾米尔·吉安松先生：主席，我注意到资政拉哈尤说，数字技能较低的公民可以获得面对面帮助。我能否确认所有政府机构都应为其电子服务提供面对面帮助？
其次，资政能否确认所有政府委托的民调机构都应在未被受访者要求的情况下，披露其受政府委托并说明委托机构名称？
最后，部委是否也考虑发布这些民意调查的至少摘要？
拉哈尤·马哈赞女士：主席，我先回答第二和第三个问题。
关于调查，澄清一点，MDDI并不协调政府所有的调查，因为每个政府机构会根据自身需求和议题单独处理。因此，我们无法确认所有调查都符合该要求。
有些调查可能更倾向于匿名，因为如果告诉受访者这是政府发起的调查，可能导致回答不准确或偏颇。例如，问及福利是否应改善或增加时，受访者可能仅因是政府提问就要求更多，而不考虑实际情况。
所以，我不想假设，因为不同机构做法不同。
关于第三个问题，所有调查都是为了公众利益。如果调查信息有用，我们希望尽可能发布，以丰富公共讨论。
但有些情况不适合公开，比如数据包含机密或个人信息，公开后可能被重新识别；涉及种族或宗教敏感议题的调查结果；以及与合作机构的协议或合同限制。
因此，不同调查有不同考虑和处理方式。
议员还有一个问题，是关于我们的服务。我们尽力确保有替代方案和支持。正如我说的，我们设立了ServiceSG中心，目的是提供帮助。我们会尽力确保有需要且无法自行访问电子服务的人能获得帮助。帮助形式多样，如果有反馈，我们会努力弥补不足。
主席：抱歉，时间到了，杰西卡·谭女士和王华汉先生未能发言。请问田佩玲女士，您是否愿意撤回修正案？
田佩玲女士：我衷心感谢张玉泉部长、资政简尼尔·普图切里、资政陈杰豪、资政拉哈尤·马哈赞以及所有MDDI的工作人员。感谢你们的辛勤工作。确实，为了让我们在数字领域占据有利位置，需要付出复杂的努力。
因此，我请求撤回我的修正案。
[(程序文本) 经许可，修正案撤回。 (程序文本)]
[(程序文本) 预算总额2,956,698,500元，Q项下，批准列入主要预算。 (程序文本)]
[(程序文本) 预算总额103,188,200元，Q项下，批准列入发展预算。 (程序文本)]
主席：我们已经坐了将近五个小时。现在我提议休息。秩序。
[(程序文本) 随后议长离开委员会主席席，回到议会主席席。 (程序文本)]
议长：秩序。我宣布休会，下午3点10分重新开会。秩序。
会议休会
下午2点51分至3点10分。
会议于下午3点10分恢复
[副议长（谭顺娘女士）主持]
英文原文
SPRS Hansard 原始记录 · 抓取日期：2026-05-02
The Chairman : Head Q, Ministry of Digital Development and Information. Ms Tin Pei Ling.
12.26 pm
Sustainable and Safe Digital Growth
Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) : Chairman, I move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Estimates be reduced by $100."
Digitalisation is our present reality and an inevitable future. This transformation is not just about technological upgrades, but fundamentally reshaping our society, economy and way of life. It presents vast economic opportunities, promising a better quality of life for future generations.
Singapore has always been unafraid of transformations, having pivoted through multiple strategic ones since our Independence. This is especially meaningful given that this is the year of SG60. Our latest push in digitalisation has seen positive results, as our digital economy grew from contributing 13% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2017 to 17.3% in 2022.
Yet, as we pick up the pace in our march towards a digital future, we must also ensure that our digitally-driven growth must be sustainable, inclusive and safe for all.
There are several factors that I believe are imperative to a digitally-successful future, namely: world class digital infrastructure, vibrant talent community and ecosystem, widespread adoption by businesses, sustainable and green development, safe and inclusive digital society, and stronger global cooperation.
In this opening cut, I will focus on world class digital infrastructure, sustainable and green development as well as safe and inclusive digital society.
Singapore has always invested heavily in building up our infrastructure ahead of time so that when the wave arrives, we are ready to ride it. Underpinning our digital growth must, therefore, be enabled by high-performing, resilient and secure digital infrastructure, which includes broadband networks, cloud services, data centres and high-performance computing power.
Singapore ranks first in Asia for digital infrastructure in the recent IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking. This is no easy feat and only possible because of years of careful planning and hard work. So, we must not let up. More importantly, in the digital world, everything runs 24/7. A small failure in our digital infrastructure can cause major disruptions to our economic activities and daily lives.
Hence, can the Minister share what measures are being put in place to build up our digital infrastructure further and ensure its resilience and security?
I note that the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) released the Advisory Guidelines for cloud service providers and data centres last month to enhance their resilience and security. Can the Minister elaborate on the key measures in these guidelines and how they help operators uplift their resilience and security measures?
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated horizontally and vertically across industries and sectors, as the overall adoption of digital technologies increases, the demand for data centres and higher computing power will increase. Consequently, the demand for energy will also rise exponentially.
12.30 pm
Data centres, the backbone of a digital economy, currently consume around 1% to 1.5% of global electricity, a figure that Goldman Sachs Research projects will increase by 50% by 2027 and potentially by up to 165% by 2030 compared to 2023 levels. Training advanced AI models, for instance, can emit a carbon footprint comparable to driving a gasoline-powered vehicle for five to 20 miles per unit of processed text. Therefore, as we embrace digitalisation, we must also accelerate our decarbonisation efforts, enhance energy security and reduce reliance on brown energy.
Hence, can the Minister elaborate on the Government's strategy to balance the growth of our digital infrastructure with our commitment to environmental sustainability? Can we consider having structured programmes to drive the use of energy-efficient algorithms across industries?
Can we consider setting more instructive guidelines to advise industries on the preferred type of hardware to be used and standards to adopt when designing software? There is currently one developed by IMDA and Microsoft on software development. Is there scope for such guidelines to be further expanded?
Despite the geopolitical sensitivities, what can we learn from DeepSeek's experience as it is considered to be cheaper and greener than other AI models? How will the Government secure more green energy to support a sustainable digital development for Singapore?
Lastly, trust is fundamental in a society and underpinning trust in a digital society is to ensure that it is inclusive and safe for all.
For a digital future to truly succeed, Singaporeans must be able to enjoy easy access to digital services and participate meaningfully in the digital economy. They should also feel safe when they interact and transact online. To this end, our Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Digital Development and Information moved a Motion in January last year to "reaffirm our commitment to adopt a whole-of-nation approach to sustain trust by building an inclusive and safe digital society". Members discussed the imperatives of ensuring an inclusive and safe digital society and put forth 13 calls to action to achieve this.
Could the Minister give an update on what has transpired or implemented since the Motion with these 13 calls to action in January 2024?
And in ensuring safety, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong mentioned that there will be a new law to protect victims from online harms, when he launched Smart Nation 2.0. In the very recent media report, we have been told that, and that is just last month, that online harms have been increasing because the number of people who have been approaching support centres to received help for online harms have pretty much doubled. And so, there is new imperative and new urgency for us to do more to protect those who are victimised online. And, therefore, can the Minister provide more details on how the new law will help address online harms?
As I still have time, please allow me to speak in Mandarin.
(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Chairman, going towards a digital economy is a must in Singapore. There are two important factors for success. First, we must continue to make our digital economy green and sustainable; and second, ensure deeper participation from our citizens so they can share the fruits of progress.
Based on the second point, we need to ensure that we can build a safe and inclusive digital society where citizens can participate meaningfully in the development of the digital economy with peace of mind.
Last year, the GPC tabled a Motion in Parliament, in which we put forward 13 calls for action. I hope the Government can focus on these 13 calls and continue to enhance the overall safety of our digital society. I hope the Minister can update us on these calls.
In addition, can we also consider legislation to strengthen the crackdown on harmful behaviours, such as cybercrimes, scams and bullying? I hope the Minister can provide us with more information on this.
( In English ): Sir, our pursuit for digital growth and realising a digital future will mean nothing if it cannot be sustained and if our people do not feel safe or get to enjoy the benefits of digitalisation. Hence, I seek to move.
[(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]
The Chairman : Ms Tin Pei Ling, again. You can take all of the rest of your cuts together.
National AI Strategy 2.0 Progress Update
AI for Business
Digital Talents and Community
Global Cooperation for Digital Future
Harnessing AI Power for Business
Ms Tin Pei Ling : Sir, in my opening cut and in my past speeches in this House, I set out why I think digitalisation is important to our nation's growth and well-being. I talked about both the opportunities and challenges that come along with that. I also shared that there are several factors that I believe are imperative to a digitally successful future, namely: world-class digital infrastructure, vibrant talent community and ecosystem, widespread adoption by businesses, sustainable and green development, safe and inclusive digital society, and stronger global cooperation.
Here, I will talk about talents and ecosystem, support for businesses and global cooperation.
Narrowing the focus on AI, Singapore has a clear strategy as set out in the National AI Strategy (NAIS) 2.0 report. In the report, Singapore sees AI as no longer an opportunity but a necessity, that it has to go from projects to system and that it has to go from local to global.
Now that NAIS 2.0 has been launched for more than a year since December 2023, can the Minister share what are some of the efforts and outcomes in driving adoption, experimentation and innovation for the Government and industry?
Within NAIS 2.0, people and communities form an important system. I fully agree. No digital future can be realised without the right human capital. We must nurture our young, build our native talent pipeline and attract the brightest minds from across the globe.
Not only do we want to build up our Singaporeans to have what it takes to capitalise on the opportunities in and out of Singapore, we want them to learn and spar with top talents. And by fostering a vibrant community of talents, research institutes and enterprises, ideas can cross-fertilise, collaborations can happen and we can create a virtuous cycle of innovation that benefits both our economy and our people. Public and private partnerships, along with robust peer-to-peer collaboration, are essential to provide the meaningful opportunities that will keep talent anchored in Singapore.
Hence, can the Minister provide an update about what is being done to strengthen our talent pool and enhance the "staying power" of these talents and community of partners in Singapore?
Next, our local enterprises are a key part of the engine driving our economy. We must help our local enterprises to adopt new and impactful technologies, so that the power of these innovations can be fully unleashed to benefit our economy and Singaporeans.
Over the years, the Government has taken significant steps to support these enterprises in adopting new technologies. However, with the breakthrough of Gen AI models, such as those that have emerged recently, we must redouble our efforts. It is imperative that enterprises across sectors integrate AI into their core strategies and operations. And a more targeted approach for specific sectors and for businesses with different digital maturity is needed to help them move along.
With the recent refresh of the Industry Digital Plans (IDPs) for several sectors and the launch of new IDPs for the legal and tourism sectors, can the Minister elaborate on how these plans are tailored to address sector-specific AI tools and challenges? How does IMDA plan to support businesses at different stages of digital maturity in adopting and leveraging Gen AI technologies, and what specific benefits would the Minister anticipate for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from these new initiatives?
At the same time, geopolitical tensions, particularly the United States (US)-China rivalry, pose challenges. Companies will need clarity and assurances when choosing which Gen AI platforms to adopt. For example, some may have concerns about the use of DeepSeek's AI models due to potential implications from US sanctions. As we navigate these complex dynamics, there may be scope for us to provide clearer guidelines and support for our enterprises to adopt technology without fear of reprise or sanctions from either of the major powers.
Building on hon Member Henry Kwek's point made during the Budget debate, I agree that it is important to ensure that we are able to build up a model that can take into consideration our local social values, ethical standards and other more local factors. If we take a look at DeepSeek, we also know that DeepSeek itself, hailed as a breakthrough, was also distilled from many other AI models as well. Therefore, I would like to ask whether it is possible for Singapore to also develop or distill our own AI model, so that our companies can leverage on this and to continue to grow and develop with greater sense of assurance.
Finally, global cooperation is essential. In a world where digital economies are increasingly interconnected, Singapore's role as a financial and trade hub is more important than ever. We have signed Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) with countries, such as Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand, and we are actively advancing the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Digital Economy Framework Agreement. These initiatives will facilitate data sharing, harmonise understanding and standards, promote technological collaboration and perhaps also help combat online harms, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the global digital economy.
Therefore, can the Minister provide an update on how the Government is collaborating with governments and organisations globally to build capabilities, facilitate data sharing and transactions, and combat online harms?
SPH Media Trust – KPIs
Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied) : Sir, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) shared at last year's Budget that $260 million was earmarked for SPH Media Trust for the FY2024/2025. We were also told that the Ministry had established key performance indicators (KPIs) for SPH Media Trust. The Minister said that while SPH Media Trust had maintained its overall reach and achieved a modest increase in its digital subscriptions, it did not meet all its KPIs on digital reach, youth reach, vernacular reach and average time spent on its websites and apps. Accordingly, it did not receive the full funding that was committed.
For FY2024/2025, what objective criteria did the Ministry set for these KPIs that were not reached? More specifically, were these KPIs lowered or were they increased? Has SPH Media Trust fared any better since last year? Can the Minister share data on print and digital subscriptions to its English and vernacular titles, respectively, over the last two years?
I had also asked the Minister about the way the Ministry presented its subsidies to SPH Media Trust in the Budget book, and whether there was a simpler way for the public to track and understand the KPIs the Ministry had set for SPH Media Trust. This point is important given the size of the subsidy granted to the mainstream media. After all, as the Minister would agree, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
I would like to share anecdotal feedback from those who follow local English news closely, for example, that CNA's reporting and commentary on local issues, in terms of depth, has overtaken that of The Straits Times. Does the Ministry conduct local surveys to gauge the public response to our local media outlets? And if so, how does it make the decision to deploy taxpayer dollars to those media outlets that rank less satisfactorily in the public eye? How often are such surveys undertaken? What other objective KPIs does the Ministry keep track of to ensure that the taxpayer dollars for SPH Media is purposefully spent?
The Chairman: Ms Hany Soh, you can take your two cuts together.
Public Service Media Entities
Ms Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee) : While advancements in technology and AI bring about new opportunities, they also present new challenges and competition. Take the news, media and entertainment spheres, for example. Consumers worldwide have been increasingly moving towards online streaming services and non-traditional sources, such as social media.
In July 2024, BBC announced plans to cut 500 jobs by March next year in a bid to save £200 million and become a "leaner, more agile organisation", as it copes with funding and inflationary pressures. This came after a reduction of its headcount by 10%, or nearly 2,000 roles. Its long-time flagship current affairs interview programme, HARDtalk, was also axed as a result.
CNN also announced its plan to lay off 6% of its workforce in January earlier this year, as it revamps its schedule and digital strategy. This followed having already cut 100 jobs, or about 3% of its workforce, last summer as it reorganised its news gathering operations.
Back home, SPH Media announced in November last year that it has laid off 34 employees, amounting to 10% of its technology division amidst its restructuring and digital transformation.
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During my interactions with union members who are in the broadcasting industry in my capacity as the advisor of the Singapore Union of Broadcasting Employees, I picked up on one of their concerns that job restructuring is inevitable as Singaporeans, like the rest of the world, are consuming media from across a range of digital sources and platforms, and there is thus a rapid decline in consumption of its content from traditional analogue media platforms.
Against this evolving backdrop, how does MDDI intend to support our Public Service Media entities, ensuring that they remain relevant and maintain or improve audience outreach, given ongoing technological disruptions and the proliferation of information sources?
Digital Inclusion for All
(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Over the years, the Government has been helping vulnerable groups integrate into the digital society through various initiatives, such as DigitalAccess@Home, Seniors Go Digital and Mobile Access for Seniors. These programmes provide subsidised broadband equipment, raise public awareness about digital technology and offer training to support these groups.
In light of this, could MDDI share the current outcomes of these initiatives? For example, how many households have benefited from DigitalAccess@Home to date? What progress has Seniors Go Digital made in training seniors to use digital tools? Additionally, what challenges have been encountered during the implementation of these programmes and what measures have been taken to address them? Are there plans to further expand this support in the future?
I would like to suggest the following measures for the Ministry to consider, in order to further strengthen support for vulnerable groups: increase collaboration with business enterprises to introduce a more comprehensive package to reduce the cost of digital access for low-income families. Expand community workshops to provide more personalised digital training for seniors, such as one-on-one tutoring, to meet their learning needs while continuing to enhance their awareness and ability to prevent online scams.
Strengthen support for assistive technologies and training for people with disabilities, possibly by collaborating with business enterprise and professional organisations to provide customised solutions. Digital inclusion is essential for social equity and progress. I look forward to the Ministry's response and believe that these efforts will continue to benefit more Singaporeans.
Support for Citizens in Digital Space
Mr Keith Chua (Nominated Member) : Chairman, digitisation is transforming the way we live, work and interact. From e-payments to telemedicine and digital Government services, technology has become a cornerstone of our daily life. As Singapore advances, we must ensure that every Singaporean, regardless of age, ability or background, can confidently navigate the online space without fear of exclusion or exploitation. Our digital future must be built on inclusivity, empowerment and safety. While many have adapted, others remain digitally vulnerable and lack digital confidence. These include seniors struggling with e-services and persons with physical and mental disabilities.
IMDA announced a strategic collaboration involving over 300 partners under the National Digital for Life Movement to help advance Singaporeans' essential digital skills. These efforts are commendable and instrumental in closing the digital divide. But more needs to be done to reach underserved communities. A report by the Ministry of Social and Family Development has highlighted the need for design and technological solutions to promote independent living among persons with disabilities.
I would like to ask the Ministry how would ongoing digital initiatives ensure mass access so that no one is left behind? How can we scale efforts to further bridge the digital divide? What strategies are in place to empower citizens with the skills and confidence to use technology safely and effectively? How are we ensuring accessibility across all digital platforms, particularly for persons with disabilities? How are we strengthening public awareness of online threats, ensuring that Singaporeans can identify and protect themselves against digital risks?
An inclusive, safe and digitally empowered society is not just a goal. It is a necessity. We must ensure that every Singaporean can access, use and benefit from technology securely and confidently.
The Chairman : Mr Gerald Giam, take your two cuts together.
Digital Inclusion
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied) : Sir, digitalising services improves efficiency and convenience for both individuals and organisations. However, some Singaporeans struggle to keep up, whether due to physical limitations, lack of digital literacy or difficulties adapting. These individuals risk being left behind as more Government and business services move online.
Providing parallel paper applications is not always a solution to digital marginalisation. Instead, all agencies should have walk-in computer stations staffed by officers who are trained in that agency's processes. These officers should guide users through digital applications, helping them to use the systems independently over time.
ServiceSG centres play an important role in guiding citizens through Government e-services, but their officers cannot be expected to know every agency's processes in detail. While they assist with common digital functions, they are not equipped to handle complex applications like for a Long-Term Visit Pass or public defender. Government agencies must take responsibility for guiding users through their own systems. The ServiceSG network should also be expanded, including to Serangoon.
The Seniors Go Digital programme was introduced to help older Singaporeans navigate digital services. How effective has it been so far? How many seniors have been trained and to what extent has their digital literacy improved? Are there plans to expand the programme to reach more citizens?
Beyond basic training, digital inclusion efforts should also ensure that seniors and other digitally marginalised groups can more confidently use essential platforms, including communication apps that connect them with the family, businesses and Government agencies.
Sir, digitalisation must bring greater inclusion, not create new barriers, so that all Singaporeans, regardless of age, ability or financial means, can fully benefit from digitalisation.
Public Opinion Surveys
Sir, last year, I took a survey conducted at the doorstep of my flat which covered various political and social topics. I was asked about my satisfaction with life, the economy and my neighbourhood. I was also asked to rate whether I believe the Government makes decisions in the best interest of Singapore, whether it takes my opinion seriously and if there are enough channels to voice my views. I was also asked to rate the quality of the Armed Forces, Civil Service, mainstream media and online media, as well as my confidence in the Police and the Courts. There were questions on affordability, whether I find housing, healthcare, public transport and education affordable. I was asked about competition from foreigners at work, the pace of immigration and the quality of migrants. Lastly, I was asked how strongly I identify as a Singaporean and whether I would migrate to another country for a better quality of life.
When I asked who commissioned the survey, the pollster could not tell me. More recently, I saw another pollster conducting a similar survey in my neighbourhood. I also received similar surveys via phone in the past. Are these surveys being commissioned by the Government? And if so, which Ministry is responsible? Are they used only to shape public policy or are they also used to gauge public sentiment for electoral purposes?
If public funds are being used, the results should be made public. Otherwise, there is a risk that such surveys will be seen as serving partisan interests rather than benefiting Singapore and Singaporeans as a whole.
Protection from Online Harms
Mr Eric Chua (Tanjong Pagar) : Sir, in 2022, I spoke about the risks of exposure to sexually explicit materials, gaming addiction and other harms online. I emphasised the need for awareness, appropriate interventions and collective efforts from the Government, families and society to create a safer and more constructive online environment.
Last year, I highlighted the pervasiveness of digital technology in exposing youths to harmful online content and how unrealistic body standards being purveyed through mainstream and social media platforms have become a source of mental health strain for our society.
The online world has become an indispensable part of our lives, offering opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing and content creation. However, it must also be made safer, especially for the young and impressionable. Some have suggested access bans as a solution to online harms, but banning access alone is clearly not the way forward.
For instance, social media bans might generate unintended dangers. The premise is: young people are adept at using the Internet. Bans might push them to access social media without their parents' knowledge or prompt them to look for unregulated and hidden areas of the Internet.
I, therefore, reiterate my call to the MDDI to dive deeper into how we can shape an online environment that balances safety as well as opportunities for growth. After all, our digital space should remain a constructive platform for young people to network, share knowledge and create content, one that is safer and more conducive for everyone.
Online Safety
Mr Xie Yao Quan (Jurong) : Chairman, online safety is a work in progress and perhaps, will always remain so. The inaugural Online Safety Assessment Report bears this out. IMDA's mystery shopper test showed that Instagram acted on just 2% of legitimate user reports on content that violated its own community guidelines in the first instance. Facebook took an average of nine days to act on legitimate user reports, and X took an average of 10 days, much, much longer than the median time of 15.06 hours – very precise, I must add – that X itself has declared in its annual report.
Taken together, most of these designated social media services took action on only around half of legitimate user reports and took an average of five days to act. Do not get me wrong. I think MDDI has done a lot to advance online safety for Singaporean users and our online safety laws are landmark. Yet, much more needs to be done.
I have a few questions for the Ministry. First, how would the Ministry work with the designated social media services to ensure that they do much better in acting on user reports and take down harmful content much more quickly? Two, would the Ministry consider stepping up punitive measures on the social media services? How many fines has IMDA imposed so far on the platforms for failing to fulfil their obligations under our laws? And three, are there plans to finally designate Telegram as a social media service, too, because, in practice, it is a social media service, not just a messaging app?
The Chairman : Mr Alex Yam. Your three cuts, please.
Future-ready Public Libraries
Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee) : Mr Chairman, I love the libraries when I was growing up. A visit to the National Library at Fort Canning or the regional libraries was always a real treat. I, therefore, rise to invite the Ministry to update the House on how our public libraries will be evolving to support a future-ready Singapore. In particular, libraries have long been a cornerstone of community enrichment. Yet, the digital age calls for more innovative approaches to learning.
What new initiatives can we expect to see in our libraries that will encourage greater tech adoption and skills acquisition for all Singaporeans? Furthermore, how will these initiatives be scaled up for different age groups, especially our seniors, so that everyone, regardless of digital fluency, can benefit?
Libraries should not just be repositories of books, but living, breathing testbeds of new knowledge and digital hands-on experiences. I look forward to hearing how the Ministry plans to bring these transformative opportunities to the heart of our communities.
Civil Discourse in Online Space
In our interconnected world, social media and digital platforms are powerful tools for community building. Yet, they can also be fertile breeding grounds for harmful discourse, misinformation and polarising narratives that threaten our social fabric.
We have long prided ourselves on our cohesive society and we must not let online vitriol undermine our unity. Youths, in particular, are vulnerable to the negative influences in these digital spaces. Could the Minister please share the Ministry’s strategic efforts to foster civic-mindedness on the Internet, be it through digital literacy programmes, collaborative initiatives with community groups or targeted policies encouraging responsible online behaviour?
Accessible Digital Services
Mr Chairman, how will the Ministry ensure our digital services truly leave no one behind, especially our seniors and people with disabilities? As we forge ahead with smart initiatives and digital transformation, how will these advances remain equitable and accessible to vulnerable groups in our society? We know that technology can be intimidating at times, even exclusionary, if not implemented thoughtfully. Will the Ministry, therefore, be introducing new standards or guidelines to ensure our websites, apps and other digital resources are user-friendly for individuals with varying needs?
Finally, how will the Ministry measure success, track progress and provide transparent updates so that we can be assured that every segment of our community benefits from our digital future?
I would like to also take the opportunity to affirm the staff of MDDI and associated agencies for the work that they do in advancing an inclusive and informed nation through digital transformation. I have worked with many of them on various projects, and I can attest to their passion and dedication in making lives more closely connected and digitally-efficient, yet also so tremendously people-centred. Thank you to everyone for their work.
1.00 pm
NRIC – Leading Inter-agency Coordination
Mr Ong Hua Han (Nominated Member) : Sir, MDDI should take the lead in coordinating efforts across Government agencies to protect personal information. During the January Ministerial Statement, Minister Josephine Teo clarified that scammers are not known to directly use NRIC numbers to steal or unlock valuables.
Still, NRIC numbers continue to serve as a gateway to accessing personal, but not secret, information in Singapore. Take, for example, the Eligibility Checker for the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme, on the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board website. Anyone can check whether a senior has less than the Basic Retirement Sum in their Retirement Account, earns less than $4,000 a month, and if the annual value of their residence is below $21,000.
All this information can be unlocked with a senior's NRIC number and date of birth. It may not be obvious how this information could be misused. But in the hands of scammers, it could be used to build credibility and manipulate vulnerable individuals through social engineering tactics.
I appreciate the CPF Board's intent to make the eligibility checks convenient. However, with scams becoming more sophisticated, should we not re-consider the right balance between security and convenience more carefully?
We must act with foresight to stay ahead of emerging threats. With its deep expertise in data protection, MDDI is best placed to help our Government agencies develop the instinct for proactive data security.
The Chairman : Ms Jessica Tan. Please take your three cuts together.
Singapore's Digital Resilience
Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo (East Coast) : Thank you, Chairman. With the increasing adoption of digital technologies and services and Singapore's Smart Nation ambition, ensuring digital resilience is essential in building and maintaining trust, amongst citizens as well as businesses. Our cybersecurity ecosystem, the Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (NextGen NBN) and infrastructure development, our education and workforce development, digital governance and innovation play pivotal roles in Singapore's digital resilience strategy.
As digital technologies become more pervasive, the risks of cyberattacks and sophistication of cyber threats are increasing. The demand for skills in cybersecurity, AI and emerging technologies continue to grow, both public sector and businesses are facing talent shortage. To ensure robust digital infrastructure, Singapore will need to invest in infrastructure upgrades and readiness. The rapid pace of technological advancements will require the regulatory and policy frameworks to be agile and adaptable, to ensure that regulations are supportive of innovation while still providing the necessary safeguards.
So, how is Singapore preparing to stay ahead of emerging digital threats and having an adaptive digital strategy? And can MDDI share what the strategic priorities for enhancing our digital resilience in Singapore is?
Growth Opportunities with AI
Mr Chairman, the adoption of AI and innovation offer substantial growth opportunities for businesses across sectors. By adopting AI solutions, businesses can unlock new revenue streams, enhance customer experiences, optimise operations and mitigate risks.
As shared in the Ministry of Trade and Industry's (MTI's) COS yesterday, AI adoption is increasing across different industries. The landscape for businesses in the drive to adopt AI solutions is both promising and challenging.
So, how is the Government creating an enabling environment to support businesses to actively, and I emphasise the word "actively", embrace and implement AI solutions to enhance competitiveness and to drive growth? How are Singapore businesses progressing in the digital adoption and embracing of AI solutions for their businesses?
A significant challenge for businesses in their adoption of AI solutions is the shortage and competition for skilled AI professionals. Businesses will also need infrastructure and resources. These include computing power, data storage and cloud services. Having access to high quality data is also essential for successful AI adoption as data is an essential building block for training AI models.
As AI adoption grows, businesses must ensure that they use AI responsibly and ethically, including how they handle data privacy, bias and transparency. This is crucial in building and maintaining trust.
The new Enterprise Compute Initiative of $150 million announced in Budget 2025 aims to address these challenges that businesses face in adopting AI solution. How can businesses tap the Enterprise Compute Initiative and what are the eligibility criteria to qualify?
Digital and AI Expertise and Capabilities
Singapore's vision for a Smart Nation and our commitment to digital transformation for sustainable growth require us to have a strong talent pool of digital expertise and capabilities. A key pillar of Singapore's digital strategy is accelerating AI development and deployment. The latest iteration of the National AI Strategy (NAIS) 2.0 was launched in 2023. An important enabler of that is talent. A critical factor in advancing AI capabilities is the development of a strong talent pool.
The landscape of AI expertise and capabilities is dynamic and rapidly evolving, with countries around the world making significant investments in AI research, development and talent acquisition. So, how is the Government ensuring a strong pipeline and retention of technical expertise and AI capabilities, within the public sector and the wider Singapore ecosystem?
Considering Singapore's limited resources, how are we building these capabilities and what are the key consideration in helping us leapfrog in AI innovations? In a global competitive landscape for AI talent, how is Singapore progressing in the development and attraction of top AI expertise and capabilities?
The Chairman : The next Member is not here. Miss Rachel Ong.
Enhance Workforce Readiness for AI
Miss Rachel Ong (West Coast) : Chairman, AI is rapidly transforming industries, reshaping jobs and redefining essential skills. DBS Group's recent announcement to cut 4,000 jobs over the next three years highlights AI's growing impact. This shift is not limited to large enterprises. SMEs must also adapt to stay competitive. AI proficiency should be a universal workforce asset, not a specialised skill limited to a few.
Education institutions are stepping up, with initiatives like Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Gen AI courses, equipping professionals with practical AI skills.
Yet, SME adoption of such training remains uncertain. As AI reshapes the job landscape, how is the Government ensuring that businesses and the workers, especially in SMEs and vulnerable roles are prepared? What initiatives are in place to help the Workforce develop AI skills for productivity gains and how will workers in these sectors be supported through this transition?
The Chairman : Ms Mariam Jaafar, you can take your two cuts together.
Government AI Use Cases
Ms Mariam Jaafar (Sembawang) : Sir, AI and Gen AI are transforming how government agencies around the world operate across all core government sectors and functions – to streamline government services, improve governance and improve citizen experience.
For example, in healthcare to predict and manage disease outbreaks and growing medical conditions, in infrastructure to do smart traffic planning, in social services to speed up document processing or detect fraudulent activities, in customer service and citizen engagement. The Government as a lead user can also provide a base load for emerging AI infrastructure, and develop and stress test emerging responsible AI frameworks are tailored to our values.
In Singapore, the Government is already using AI in use cases, like traffic management. What is the value that has been created? What steps is the Government taking to accelerate the adoption of AI and Gen AI, and value creation through AI in Government?
Enterprise Adoption of AI
Sir, AI is no longer a distance technology of tomorrow, it is here, transforming industries and reshaping jobs. Many enterprises are already using AI to drive productivity, especially individual productivity, deploying tools like Microsoft Co-Pilot – but these productivity-driven AI use cases typically deliver only 10% to 20% productivity improvement.
For true enterprise value creation, enterprises must go beyond to use AI to reshape their critical core business processes, such as AI-driven fault detection, or to invent new products and services, such as by charging their customers AI credits on a pay-as-you-go basis for new AI features. Only then can we drive true value creation through higher revenue growths, dramatically transform operational efficiencies and enhance customer experience.
On this front, enterprise adoption of AI in Singapore remains very uneven, especially amongst SMEs. Having done some research on this topic, I can share that the main challenges are setting the right ambition and alignment on AI, scaling from AI proof-of-concept to generating value at-scale, and finding the right talent. Smaller companies also find access to Cloud and AI infrastructure expensive.
Sir, we need to democratise access to infrastructures, ecosystems and talent, and raise the AI ambitions of our enterprises. How is the Ministry supporting our local enterprises to accelerate the adoption of AI for larger scale value creation, so that Singapore can continue to harness AI for economic gains and social benefit?
The Chairman : Next Member is not here. Mr Sharael Taha, you can take your five cuts together.
Building AI and Tech Talent Pipeline
Mr Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol) : Chairman, my first cut. While Singapore is building deep capabilities in AI, cybersecurity and other emerging technologies, these skills are not just critical for tech professionals, but also basic end user knowledge is increasingly essential for the general workforce. While we strive to develop a workforce with deep expertise, it is equally important to uplift the broader workforce with foundational digital and AI skills.
AI should not remain a niche skillset for a select few. Rather, it should become as commonplace as the use of Microsoft Word or Excel in today's workplace. On developing expert capabilities, how effective has a TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) been in equipping our local workforce with the deep tech skills needed for AI and cybersecurity roles? Are we on track to meet our target for AI practitioners?
Beyond the tech sector, AI has the potential to enhance productivity and enable faster and better decision-making, particularly for SMEs too. However, adoption remains uneven for SMEs. How can we accelerate the development of AI literacy and digital skills across the broader workforce, ensuring that workers, whether in retail, logistics, professional services or any other industry, can harness AI to drive productivity, scale their businesses and stay competitive in the global market?
Empower SMEs to AI-enabled Solutions
Many SMEs lack the budget to build in-house digital teams to hire AI talent to identify and implement AI opportunities in their businesses. How is the Government supporting SMEs in leveraging AI to boost productivity, enhance decision-making and scale effectively through the adoption of AI enabled solutions?
Leaders in Developing AI
Singapore aspires to be a global leader in AI adoption, innovation and digital technology solutions. In Budget 2024, it was announced that there would be collaborations with industry to drive AI adoption and innovation. Can the Ministry provide an update on these collaborations? How can we further encourage companies to develop or establish their AI capabilities in Singapore?
Beyond schemes and grants, building the right ecosystem is crucial to attracting and sustaining AI-driven developments. This requires not only skilled talent and cutting-edge infrastructure, such as an ultra-fast broadband network, but also effective matching of technology to business needs, alongside the necessary safeguards to prevent misuse. How are we progressing in our NAIS 2.0 strategy to realise Singapore's vision of AI as a force for good, one that empowers businesses and uplifts our people?
At the same time, the very infrastructure and expertise that enables AI innovation can also be exploited for criminal activities. What safeguards are in place to prevent misuse by malicious actors and ensure the integrity of our AI ecosystem?
Raising Our Cybersecurity Posture
Cybersecurity threats continue to be on the rise, while we have amended our Cybersecurity Act to strengthen the protection of critical information infrastructures and expand the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore's (CSA's) oversight to cover new classes, how do we continue to raise our national cybersecurity posture?
Many SMEs lack the budget to build in-house cybersecurity teams or hire talent with deep expertise in cybersecurity. How can we assist SMEs to upgrade their cybersecurity posture?
Support for Vernacular Media
The support for our vernacular media has enabled the platforms to transform and provide many innovative digital products to engage the community.
Berita Harian, in particular, has been able to provide many media offerings for the Malay language speaker, not only in Singapore, but in the region. This is important as it provides the Singapore Malays' perspective on current affairs issues in the region. How has this increased the viewership of Berita Harian and how can we further assist our vernacular papers to reach out to the much larger Malay speakers in the region?
The Chairman : Minister Josephine Teo.
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The Minister for Digital Development and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo) : Mr Chairman, I thank Members for their cuts.
Last year, the Prime Minister launched Smart Nation 2.0 – a refresh of our vision for Singapore to use technology to uplift the lives of our people. Today, I will elaborate on our efforts in four areas: (a) how we support our workforce to succeed in the age of AI; (b) how we keep Singaporeans safe by fighting harmful online activities; (c) how we protect our cyberspace against malicious attacks; and (d) how we preserve trust in our information space (infospace) by strengthening public service media.
Mr Chairman, may I ask the Clerks to distribute the package of handouts?
The Chairman : Yes, go ahead. [ Handouts were distributed to hon Members. ]
Mrs Josephine Teo : Thank you. Members may also access these materials through the MP@SGPARL app.
Sir, in this year's Budget and COS debates, Members spoke often about AI. Ms Jessica Tan, Miss Rachel Ong and Mr Sharael Taha also raised concerns about its impact on workers.
I understand these concerns. They are real and will be with us for some time, because we are only at the very early stages of AI adoption globally. People all over the world would like to know who will be impacted and how. While there is no perfect clarity, there are ways in which we can help.
The first is to recognise that many jobs will still be around. The risk is not that these jobs will be lost to AI, but that they are lost to another country or city that is more competitive than us. Our most important task, therefore, is to help as many people and businesses as we can become more productive, with the use of AI. We want to become a nation of competent and confident AI users. In doing so, we can maintain Singapore's economic competitiveness and retain more good jobs here.
Sir, I have compiled a list of comparisons by various organisations in the handout . Members will see that Singapore is well-regarded and well-placed to benefit from widespread AI adoption. We should capitalise on this opportunity. We have established strong partnerships with tech companies, like Amazon Web Services, Databricks, Google and Oracle. For example, Microsoft has partnered with NTUC Learning Hub to train up to 100,000 workers with AI skills.
At the same time, IMDA is working with SkillsFuture Singapore to expand the curriculum in SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace 2.0 to include AI and Gen AI content. Under this expansion, workers in all sectors, be it manufacturing or retail, can learn how to use tools, such as ChatGPT and CoPilot. This will help them to enhance their productivity at work, even if they have no background in technology.
The second thing we must recognise is that AI will create new jobs even as it replaces some existing ones. As Members have highlighted, our next most important task is to deepen our AI capabilities and anchor more new jobs in Singapore. This means growing our pool of AI practitioners, which includes data scientists, machine learning engineers and more.
Take, for example, the need for AI safety. As AI adoption grows, there will be greater demand for AI testing and assurance service providers, just as the widespread information technology (IT) adoption led to greater demand for IT auditors. Estimates of the market for such testing, inspection and certification services vary, but they would be in the billions in time to come.
Singapore believes in the importance of good AI governance. We were one of the first in the world to introduce a testing framework and software toolkit, AI Verify. Just last month, I launched the Global AI Assurance Pilot of the AI Verify Foundation to promote best practices in the testing of models using Gen AI. These efforts can help to grow the AI testing industry here and create new jobs.
In response to Mr Sharael Taha and Ms Tin Pei Ling, let me provide an update on efforts to expand our pool of AI practitioners.
I previously shared our ambition to expand the pool from under 5,000 to 15,000 in about five years. In the last year or so, we estimate that the pool has grown by nearly 25%.
The AI Centres of Excellence that MDDI and MTI worked closely together to set up will catalyse more demand for AI practitioners, by the hundreds if not thousands. The public sector itself has growing needs. For example, Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) is on track to hire and train a 300-person AI workforce by end-2025.
To meet demand, we need to grow a strong pipeline of AI practitioners. To this end, we will expand our efforts under IMDA's TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA). We will provide more company-led training opportunities. We will also explore ways to expand the AI Apprenticeship Programme together with AI Singapore.
Let me share an example of how these programmes benefit Singaporeans.
Seow Yuxin studied business and started her career in Regional Operations for an e-commerce platform. She did not work on AI systems directly, but the role sparked her interest in the field. After seeing her husband and brother-in-law go through the AI Apprenticeship Programme, she took a leap of faith and enrolled in the programme.
I spoke to Yuxin recently and was pleased to learn that she has pivoted to a new role in a new company delivering AI and data-driven solutions to other organisations.
We are determined to keep AI opportunities open and inclusive. Yuxin shows that one can access AI opportunities even without a STEM background. We will aim to support more Singaporeans like her to fulfil their AI aspirations.
As a Government, we will always put our people at the heart of all we do and that includes our AI plans. I hope these efforts reassure Members of our support for Singaporeans to make the most of AI.
Besides succeeding with AI, we want Singaporeans to feel safe when they go online. But this is not something the Government alone can achieve. Social media platforms must do their part, no different from how all service providers bear some responsibilities towards their users. This is why we passed the Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act in 2022 to set out their basic obligations.
Like Mr Eric Chua, we believe in adopting a holistic and balanced approach to online safety, particularly for young users. Where it is useful to do so, we will strengthen regulatory levers. For example, in January, we issued a new Code of Practice for Online Safety for App Distribution Services. For the first time, we are introducing measures to ensure that young users under 18 do not access age-inappropriate apps.
Last month, we also published our first ever Online Safety Assessment Report. To questions raised by Mr Xie Yao Quan, the report showed that the designated social media services made good efforts to put in place baseline user safety measures. However, as he has also pointed out, there are areas for improvement. They should respond more quickly to user reports. Their measures to protect children from harmful content are also far from satisfactory.
This is why MDDI is studying whether the age assurance obligations for app stores should also apply to social media services.
We also want to do more to support the victims of online harms. IMDA's report found that, more often than not, platforms fail to take action to remove genuinely harmful content reported to them by victims.
One such victim was Jane, and that is not her real name. At 18, she was horrified to find an image of her face superimposed onto another person's nude body, circulating on an image sharing platform. Strangers reposted the image and left comments, some of which sexualised or insulted her. When she reported this to the platform, they took down only the original post but not the reposts. During this ordeal, she felt scared and embarrassed, even blaming herself for posting photos online in the first place. A full decade later, at 29 years old today, Jane continues to question who created that photo of her and if it is still found online. Victims like Jane need more support to find closure.
During the Smart Nation 2.0 launch, the Prime Minister announced that the Government will introduce new legislation to support victims seeking relief from specified online harms. Ms Tin will be glad to know that the proposed law, the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill, will be introduced later this year. It will establish a new agency called the Online Safety Commission (OSC) so that victims can get timely help if they encounter online harms.
The OSC will be set up by the first half of 2026. Victims will be able to request OSC to issue a direction to the platform to take down the offensive content. The platform must also remove existing identical copies on the platform – something they refused to do for Jane.
The new law will also help victims hold their perpetrators accountable. If they want to sue the perpetrators, they can request OSC to direct the platform to provide information about the perpetrators.
In drafting the new law, the Minister of Law and MDDI have engaged a wide range of stakeholders from industry, academia, community groups and international partners. We also invited the public to provide their feedback. The public consultation findings have been published on the website of Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home (REACH).
We are heartened by the strong support and useful feedback which will help refine our proposals. Given the complexity and vastness of the digital space, rules and regulations alone are insufficient. Everyone has a part to play. Minister of State Rahayu will share what citizens can do to protect themselves online.
Sir, in his Budget Statement, the Prime Minister talked about the global context being more uncertain and having more downside risks. This is reflected in the digital domain, where cyber threats have become more severe. Criminal groups are increasingly going online to look for illicit gains. Advanced Persistent Threat actors, linked to certain states, are actively seeking to advance their national agenda.
We have seen both kinds of activities in our cyberspace. Last year, a global botnet, which included infected servers and devices around the world, was discovered. More details can be found in the handout. Until the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) participated in an international operation to disrupt this botnet, about 2,700 devices in Singapore had been infected, unbeknownst to their owners. The malicious actors exploited poor cyber hygiene practices to infect devices, including baby monitors and Internet routers.
Members may ask, so what if the botnet had remained? Well, it would have meant the devices were vulnerable and personal data belonging to device owners could have been stolen. More worryingly, the devices could be used as a standby army, much like our full-time National Servicemen, ready to be deployed into active duty. Except in this case, it would be foreign state-linked actors using the bots for malicious purposes, which can include targets directed within Singapore.
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As Ms Tin Pei Ling highlighted, international partnerships are critical in combatting such complex threats. CSA could act only because it has recognised capabilities and was trusted by its partners to be involved in this international operation.
Botnets are just one of the many cyber threats we need to defend against. This is why we emphasise the need to safeguard our cybersecurity at multiple levels.
For individuals, we will continue working with industry partners to offer better protection. One example is the Enhanced Fraud Protection feature under Google Play Protect. A common scam tactic is to entice victims to download apps from unofficial sources that can inject malware into our devices. With this feature, such download attempts on Android devices will be blocked.
For organisations, the Government is improving the SG Cyber Safe Programme. Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How will share more details later.
We also agree with Mr Sharael Taha on the need to raise our national cybersecurity posture. Last year, CSA amended the Cybersecurity Act to require that CII owners report on a larger set of cyber incidents. We also expanded CSA's oversight beyond CIIs to other important systems and entities, such as cloud services and data centres. The amendments are expected to come into force later this year. More information can be found in the handout.
Beyond cybersecurity, we aim to introduce a new Digital Infrastructure Act to enhance security and resilience of digital infrastructure. Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary will share more later.
What I worry about are the organisations that are not covered by such legislation, that are not paying enough attention to cybersecurity. Thankfully, over 500 organisations believe in the importance of cybersecurity and have acted on it by getting their Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust Marks. But we should raise baseline cybersecurity standards nationally and protect more organisations, especially those of higher risk.
CSA is, therefore, assessing if more measures are needed, particularly for vendors that may be given access to sensitive data or systems within the Government. Such vendors include cybersecurity penetration testing firms and cybersecurity auditors. Possible measures include requiring these vendors and their subcontractors to obtain their Cyber Essentials or Cyber Trust Marks before they can be licensed or bid for contracts offered by the Government.
Government may also take the lead to incorporate cybersecurity considerations in our procurement decisions. As the impact of these measures may be non-trivial, CSA plans to engage the industry before deciding.
Sir, let me turn now to my final theme. We share the same concern as Members that AI-enabled tools, like deepfakes, may be abused to cause harm. This is why we passed the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Act to protect Singaporeans from the threat of AI-generated misinformation during elections.
We are also developing a new Code of Practice to require social media companies to prevent and counter abuse of fake content. These measures, while important, are not enough. Against the tide of false information online, we must have trusted sources to turn to.
Thankfully, our Public Service Media (PSM) entities remain many Singaporeans' first port of call for credible news. The Straits Times and CNA are amongst our most frequented online news platforms, with more than 40% of Singaporeans reading them weekly. More importantly, public trust in our mainstream media remains high, with CNA and The Straits Times being the most trusted by Singaporeans at 74% and 73% respectively. Meanwhile, public trust in mainstream news has fallen in other countries, hovering at 60% or below.
Many Singaporeans, including Ms Hany Soh and Mr Sharael Taha, appreciate the efforts of Mediacorp and SPH Media to adapt to changing audience preferences. Against a climate of stiff competition, news fatigue and opaque algorithms on social media platforms, both companies are committed to increase audience reach.
However, falling revenues have forced their newsrooms to rationalise. SPH Media ceased publication of its Chinese entertainment magazine, U-Weekly. Last October, Mediacorp merged TODAY Online with CNA's Digital newsroom.
Mr Pritam Singh expressed concerns about SPH Media's performance. Like news outlets worldwide, SPH Media's print subscriptions have declined as readers shift to consuming news online. However, less than 20% of consumers in advanced countries, including Singapore, now pay for digital news subscriptions. Essentially, they can get it for free and they will continue to enjoy such services for free.
Without revealing commercially sensitive information, I can share that SPH Media's digital subscriptions have held steady and it is now 35% higher than print subscriptions. It was only 20% higher two years ago. So, you see the shift. SPH Media will have to continue its pivot to digital news and the Government must support this effort so that our PSM entities can meet audiences where they are.
Despite not meeting all their KPIs last year, SPH Media did not ask to lower their targets. They are determined to maintain their reach and relevance with Singaporeans. In 2024, they maintained their strong overall reach at 70% of Singapore's resident population although youths and vernacular reach dipped. In line with the funding agreement, MDDI will pro-rate and award the Performance-Linked Incentives accordingly.
I would like to address slightly, to some extent, the comment that was made by Mr Pritam Singh when he compared CNA and The Straits Times, I believe. I would suggest respectfully to Members that comparisons must avoid oversimplification. Because we have to remember that CNA is mainly our national broadcaster as well as digital news channel, whereas most of the titles in SPH Media Trust (SMT), most of the assets of SMT, are print still – even though they have digital versions – and they are meant to be national papers of record. So, they are different and complementary. And it is perhaps, again, my humble suggestion to Members to look at the performance of public service media holistically. Because, in truth, we need all of them to reach as many Singaporeans as we can. So, that is something to keep in mind.
And as mentioned, both CNA and The Straits Times remained the top-frequented new channels. And Members who expressed concern about the sustainability of Public Services Media will agree with me that the KPIs, such as reach, are important but they are not the only ways for us to assess the performance and the effectiveness of PSM entities. Equally, we must look at the trust levels that they are able to harness from the population and we must also look at satisfaction levels. And so, those would be the additional KPIs that we are looking to introduce.
Meanwhile, let me also point to the threat to broadcast television, with consumers shifting to platforms like YouTube or Netflix.
Even when PSM entities go onto these platforms, the experiences abroad suggest that placements and algorithms in the digital environment disadvantaged them. Countries like the UK and Australia have, therefore, made new rules. They now require Connected TVs to be pre-loaded with public service media apps like BBC iPlayer, or ABC iview, and to display these apps prominently on their user interfaces.
Given the important role of our PSM entities to inform, educate and connect Singaporeans, we must be very concerned about their visibility being obscured by the decisions of third-party platforms. Our PSM content must remain visible and easily accessible to our audiences. Therefore, MDDI is studying the regulatory moves in other countries to safeguard the prominence and discoverability of PSM. We will consult industry stakeholders, including device manufacturers, before deciding the next steps.
Sir, please allow me to conclude in Mandarin.
(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, Singapore is a highly open and digitalised country. Singaporeans can access information from various platforms – whether it is Xiaohongshu (小红书), Facebook, Netflix, or iQiYi (爱奇艺), these are platforms that many Singaporeans are familiar with.
However, with more information received, is our ability to discern information sharpened or weakened? Is the society becoming more united or increasingly divided? These are questions worth pondering. In fact, in an era of intensifying geopolitical competition, being limited in our ability to share our narratives is not beneficial for maintaining our national stance and sense of identity.
In this aspect, Public Service Media, such as Mediacorp and Lianhe Zaobao, play crucial roles. Only they will report news and analyse international events and their impact on us from Singapore's perspective. Therefore, the Government is exploring ways to make Public Service Media content more accessible to Singaporeans in the new media environment.
Of course, threats to social cohesion are not the only concern in the digital age. Therefore, some have asked me, given the dangers in the digital world, should Singapore slow down or pause its digitalisation efforts? Indeed, while Singapore is very safe in the physical world, the digital world has no clear borders and is full of risks.
However, Singapore is a small country with limited resources. In an era of intense global competition, digitalisation is key to overcoming our limitations and enabling us to continue thriving. In the digital journey, not progressing is akin to falling behind. The Government must therefore adopt the wise strategy of helping citizens and businesses enhance their digital skills and strengthening their cybersecurity awareness.
Only then can Singapore grasp new opportunities in the digital age and our workers can move forward and secure better employment opportunities.
The Chairman : Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary.
Dr Janil Puthucheary : Mr Chairman, I thank the Members for their cuts and questions, and I hope in my response today to be addressing the cuts filed by Ms Jessica Tan, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Mr Ong Hua Han, Mr Sharael Taha, Mr Dennis Tan and Ms Mariam Jaafar.
Sir, trust is at the heart of our Smart Nation efforts. Our citizens and businesses must be confident that the digital systems and services that they rely on and the interactions and transactions that they engage in, can be trusted.
I will explain MDDI's approach to building this trust: by ensuring the resilience, security and future-readiness of key digital infrastructure, and by driving Government AI adoption and innovation for the public good.
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The Government has existing regulations to reduce risks to digital infrastructure and services, including cyberattacks and service disruptions. For example, under the Telecommunications Act, IMDA requires broadband and mobile network operators to take proactive measures to minimise disruptions. There are also sectoral regulations for digital services, such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS') IT resilience and security requirements for financial institutions.
But the digital landscape is much bigger and constantly evolving. Digital infrastructure, like data centres and cloud services, have become important in enabling many functions including e-banking and payments, ride-hailing, e-commerce and digital identity. These functions allow citizens to meet their day-to-day needs and to do so conveniently and effectively. They help businesses to grow. However, the growing scale and complexity of our digital infrastructure also means an increased surface area for cyberattacks and a higher risk of disruptions arising from hardware failures, misconfigurations and other problems. Should these disruptions occur, the impact is higher, given the increasing utilisation of these services.
Last year, we amended the Cybersecurity Act to address new challenges in our operating environment. These amendments, which are expected to come into force later this year, will empower the CSA to better ensure the cybersecurity of important entities and systems beyond the critical information infrastructure (CII). These include data centres and cloud services. This, in turn, improves trust and confidence in Singapore and our digital economy. Owners of CII also have the opportunity, we hope, to review their business models. We hope that they will be encouraged to review their business models and do so with a view to using new technologies, such as commercial cloud solutions.
Beyond cyber threats, we must guard against risks that disrupt access to digital infrastructure and services, including physical hazards like fires; and less visible risks, like hardware failure and system misconfiguration. These are risks as a result of our dependence on digital infrastructure and services. We cannot eliminate risk completely, so we must enhance our preparedness by reducing the occurrence and the impact of disruptions.
We are working towards introducing a new law this year, called the Digital Infrastructure Act. This will improve Singapore's digital resilience and security. The Act targets foundational digital infrastructure, starting with major cloud service providers and data centres. The Act will require major operators to implement measures to uphold their resilience and security and to minimise disruptions.
We are studying requirements for major operators to report disruptions to the Government, so that we can better learn and improve from these incidents, and support response and recovery efforts where needed. We have been seeking feedback from digital infrastructure providers and some of their customers, since mid-2024.
IMDA recently released Advisory Guidelines for cloud service providers and data centres. These guidelines contain key measures that we have been consulting stakeholders on. The guidelines encourage data centre operators to have a robust business continuity system and ensure high availability for their enterprise customers. Cloud service providers are also encouraged to manage data security risks and ensure business continuity planning. All operators are encouraged to implement the measures and many providers, including Microsoft, Equinix and Keppel, and their enterprise customers, have expressed support for the new Advisory Guidelines, which they find to be fit for purpose and aligned with international standards.
We are also strengthening the resilience of our Government systems to ensure that Singaporeans have trust and confidence when interacting with the Government online. We have improved the resilience of central systems used by agencies. Service availability for these systems rose from 95% to 99.5% in the last year. We will continue to increase the adoption of tools to improve the resilience of Government applications, including those that monitor system uptime.
As resilience measures incur costs, our approach must be calibrated. We will support agencies providing important services to implement more sophisticated measures where appropriate.
There is a need for Government to manage access to information about individuals, as such information could be exploited in scam tactics. We are committed to ensure that data, including personal data, is managed carefully and responsibly.
In the Government's provision of digital services involving data, agencies must assess the right balance between the benefits and risks in each use case, to achieve the dual objectives of service accessibility and data protection, in line with the guidelines and safeguards that MDDI has provided.
Sir, our digital infrastructure must not only be secure and resilient but also position Singapore for the future. Last year, we announced that IMDA is investing up to $100 million to upgrade our Nationwide Broadband Network (NBN). This will enable broadband speeds up to 10 times faster than what most households have today. Operators are starting to offer higher speed broadband services at lower prices. A 10GB plan now costs between $30 and $70, compared to more than $100 a year ago.
Developing our future-ready digital infrastructure also entails addressing resource constraints as we pursue growth. We must explore ways to support Singapore's AI ambitions while keeping to our climate commitments, as well as balance digital infrastructure growth with environmental sustainability.
IMDA launched the Green Data Centre Roadmap last year to guide data centres to improve energy efficiency and use green energy to grow AI compute capacity sustainably. We have made good progress. For example, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA)-IMDA Green Mark for data centres was refreshed last October to raise the bar for data centre sustainability. IMDA also launched the Energy Efficiency Grant for the data centre sector last December to support businesses' upgrades to more energy-efficient IT equipment.
MDDI is further exploring ways to uplift data centre sustainability through regulations. We are studying other jurisdictions and are in early engagement with the industry to develop a framework for Singapore’s context.
Sir, we have to lead by example, as a Digital Government. We must continue to build the capabilities for the public sector to create and experiment with AI and unlock citizen-centric solutions.
We have made available, within the Public Service, access to best-in-class AI and large language model (LLM) tools. Pair Chat is a fast and secure Gen AI assistant used by more than half the Public Service today. Last year, we organised a whole-of-Government prompt engineering competition. This attracted over 1,040 officers. The fact that I can say this already makes us quite unusual in terms of how we do Digital Government – that we have a prompt engineering competition within Government and there were 1,040 public service officers who participated.
The finalists were tasked to build an event publicity website within 10 minutes using large language model (LLM) tools. The winner of this competition was Muhammad Naim Bin Zahari, a firefighter with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). At the time of the competition, he had just completed a 24-hour shift. In second place was Rachel Tiang, a finance officer at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Neither were in technical roles dealing with AI. Both of them and all the competitors were more than capable of building this functioning publicity website within 10 minutes using these AI and LLM-augmented tools.
We actively involve non-technical public officers in creating digital products. Last year, the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) held its inaugural series of hackathons for public officers, called the LAUNCH! Programme. It gathered more than 600 ideas and birthed 26 innovative prototypes. For example, a team of two primary school teachers and a GovTech officer prototyped an AI tool to provide students with immediate customised feedback on their oral skills performance.
We are also exploring how officers can innovate better and faster with AI. One of the prototypes from our recent Hack for Public Good hackathon was Spaceship, a tool to make prototyping less daunting for public officers. This tool, Spaceship, enables officers to use AI agents to build and deploy fully functional prototype applications, including LLM-based tools. They do this using just plain English. So, this is a tool for public officers, non-technical public officers to get from an idea to a workable app in minutes using just plain English.
Sir, I tried out this prototype and I tried to have it code a portal that restricted the length of Members of Parliament's speeches. It put the appropriate filter into the spreadsheet, but I think that is the limit of the technology today.
As we increase the use of AI in Government, it is critical to understand and mitigate the risks in AI applications. GovTech is building the capabilities to ensure that the Government's Gen AI applications go to market safely.
We have Litmus, a tool for AI safety and security testing. We have curated a set of tests to ensure our AI applications are resistant to risks that mislead users or cause reputational harm. Litmus is built in partnership with IMDA's Moonshot and will be launched this year. Based on tests with agencies, we have seen how Litmus can spot potential safety issues ahead of time, allowing us to act proactively. Essentially, this is AI testing as a service.
Litmus provides a diagnosis of the AI risks, but we also need a solution, once those risks are detected. In the AI world, guardrails ensure that AI systems operate within ethical, legal and functional boundaries. We are building Sentinel, a platform that provides guardrails as a service for the Government's AI applications. Product teams can choose from a curated list of guardrails, including those from top AI developers and localised ones like LionGuard, and easily integrate these into their applications. Sentinel has been able to accurately identify attempts to infiltrate systems or trick AI models into producing inappropriate output.
Litmus and Sentinel demonstrate how we want to develop Government Gen AI applications that are safe for use, including by members of the public.
Sir, our digital infrastructure underpins key functions that citizens and businesses rely on. We have, therefore, actively invested in enhancing the security, resilience and future-readiness of our key digital infrastructure. We also continue to build capabilities in the public sector and embrace experimentation and innovation with AI to better serve Singaporeans. I am hopeful that this will build trust in our digital future as we continue on our Smart Nation journey.
The Chairman : Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How.
The Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information (Mr Tan Kiat How) : Chairman, we want Singaporeans to benefit from good jobs, good wages and better work environments. To achieve these goals, our enterprises must be competitive amidst rapid digitalisation. We are building on a good foundation. The digital economy has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 11.2% from 2018 to 2023. We are doing more to help our workers and enterprises ride the next wave of digitalisation, particularly in AI, through the NAIS 2.0 and the Digital Enterprise Blueprint (DEB) launched last year.
Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Sharael Taha asked about the progress of NAIS 2.0. We are seeing encouraging progress. Last year, more than 26 AI Centres of Excellence were set up to push the frontiers of AI innovation and use.
For example, Lilly's Digital Health Innovation Hub will accelerate research and development of AI-powered digital health technologies, helping doctors better understand patient needs and provide personalised care. Another example, in the financial services, Prudential's global AI Lab incubates tools to enhance customer experience and improve staff efficiency. The Lab will also partner Institutes of Higher Learning to provide students with opportunities for hands-on-learning.
The Enterprise Compute Initiative announced by the Prime Minister in his Budget Speech will help anchor more Centres of Excellence in Singapore and support more innovative AI applications.
We are also seeing more organisations use AI for the public good. For example, the National Parks Board is exploring an AI application named KOEL built by participants of the Build For Good Hackathon to help with biodiversity surveys using bioacoustics. With KOEL, researchers can identify animal species from audio recordings, which can save thousands of man-hours, increase efficiency and accuracy.
Another example is iFerret. It is an AI-enabled detection system deployed at Changi Airport to help keep our runways safe. In the past, daily manual inspections were needed. Now, staff can also rely on the round-the-clock automated scanning of foreign objects on our runways, which enable them to remove these objects quickly.
Ms Tin Pei Ling, Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Sharael Taha and Ms Mariam Jaafar asked how we are assisting our enterprises, especially our SMEs, to benefit from AI. Through initiatives, such as the SMEs Go Digital Programme, we have helped about 100,000 SMEs since 2017, with 40,000 SMEs benefiting over the last four years.
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The share of SMEs adopting at least one digital solution for general business functions increased from 53% in 2020 to 84% in 2024. Very encouraging. On average, SMEs that adopted digital solutions under the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) between 2018 and 2023, reported cost savings of 48% per solution.
Mr Derrick Goh and Mr Christopher de Souza sent the gist of their cuts to us separately. They will be pleased to know that we are committed to accelerating AI adoption among SMEs.
We are updating the Industry Digital Plans (IDPs) to include sector-specific AI tools and training. We have done so for the retail, security, built environment, legal and tourism sectors. We will update more IDPs this year, such as for the food services and hotel sectors. In 2024, over 330,000 users accessed resources on the Chief Technology Officer (CTO)-as-a-Service platform, which helped almost 3,000 SMEs adopt AI-enabled solutions. Of the approximately 300 pre-approved solutions supported by PSG, about 30% or a third of them are AI-enabled.
And last year, we launched the Gen AI Sandbox, allowing SMEs to experiment with 13 Gen AI solutions to improve their marketing and sales, and streamline customer engagement efforts.
One of the over 150 participants is AHA Inspiration, a health and wellness service platform provider. By integrating a Gen AI chatbot into its website and mobile application, AHA's employees can now handle customer inquiries almost twice as fast as before while providing more personalised customer service. AHA Inspiration is just one of 120 SMEs that continued using the Gen AI solutions after the three-month Sandbox period. Our experience with the Sandbox reinforced the importance of providing opportunities for SMEs to discover the value of Gen AI through experimentation.
Building on this success, IMDA launched Gen AI Sandbox 2.0 with 14 solutions in December last year to support a wider range of Gen AI solutions in areas, such as Generative Web Design, enabling SMEs to create websites using prompts. SMEs can also try Gen AI tools for HR operations to create job descriptions and schedule interviews more efficiently. If these Gen AI solutions prove useful, we intend to add them to the list of pre-approved solutions so that all SMEs can benefit.
We also received feedback that it could be useful for the Sandbox to offer sector-specific solutions. IMDA is happy to work with interested sector leads and industry associations on curating these solutions.
Besides broad-based support for all SMEs, we are tapping on the capabilities of technology giants through the Gen AI x Digital Leaders (Gen AI x DL) programme to accelerate Gen AI adoption among the more digitally-mature enterprises. These enterprises may require customised solutions that off-the-shelf products do not fully address.
To date, over 120 enterprises have used resources provided by tech giants and their partners. A quarter of them are working to build and deploy these solutions.
Take, for example, iHub Solutions, a third-party logistics service provider. iHub's employees grappled with high volumes of ad hoc requests for reports. The time taken to manually create these reports hindered efficiency and reports were often error-prone. During the programme, iHub leveraged the expertise of tech partners to develop a report generation tool using AI. With this tool, iHub's employees can create reports automatically using simple prompts, reducing the time spent on these reports by half. iHub's customers can also use it to derive real-time supply chain insights to inform their decisions.
To seize opportunities to deploy Gen AI solutions at scale, IMDA will expand the Gen AI x DL partnerships to leverage tech partners' new development tools and pre-packaged software modules to deploy solutions for common use cases more quickly. This is being piloted and we will share more details when ready.
Ms Tin Pei Ling also asked how the Government can encourage more enterprises to adopt Gen AI. We recognise that enterprises face different challenges in doing so.
Building on the experience and best practices of early adopters, IMDA will launch a Gen AI Playbook for Enterprises catering to different stages of their digital maturity. For enterprises just starting to explore Gen AI, the Playbook illustrates the benefits of Gen AI through examples and offers resources on Gen AI solutions for specific needs.
For those deciding between buying off-the-shelf solutions and building proprietary ones, it provides an evaluation framework and information on associated risks to help them make informed choices. And for digitally-matured enterprises seeking more customised solutions, the Playbook provides insights on tech capabilities and partners needed to ensure successful implementation, alongside potential risks and governance considerations. So, the Playbook has something for all enterprises.
And complementing the Playbook, IMDA will launch an online tool, the Gen AI Navigator, that recommends the right Gen AI solution for specific business needs. The Navigator will also point to solutions with grant support and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)-funded training that can help SMEs understand how to leverage Gen AI for growth. These tools will be available on the CTO-as-a-Service platform from today.
Chairman, please allow me to speak in Mandarin.
(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] With the Government's support and promotion, over 80% of SMEs are now successfully riding the digital wave. These businesses, spanning various sectors, have adopted at least one digital solution in their operations and achieved positive results. Many businesses have also discovered that AI can help them reduce costs and enhance efficiency, thereby alleviating their cost pressures.
Between 2018 and 2023, digital solutions under the Productivity Solutions Grant brought nearly 50% cost savings to SMEs on average. To benefit more businesses, the Government will refresh the Industry Digital Plans for different sectors, providing more AI solutions. At the same time, we will launch the new GenAI Playbook for Enterprises and Navigator, to recommend Generative AI tools and training suited to their needs. Interested businesses can visit the CTO-as-a-Service platform for details.
The growing adoption of AI has significantly impacted our work and lives. Local businesses and workers must keep pace to remain competitive and avoid falling behind. Therefore, I urge everyone to catch up and make full use of the Government's support and resources to level up digital capabilities. Only then can we seize the opportunities brought forth by technological development and distinguish ourselves from the competition.
( In English ): Chairman, as enterprises digitalise, they will be more exposed to cyber threats. Mr Sharael Taha asked how we are helping our enterprises stay safe.
CSA's SG Cyber Safe programme provides differentiated support for enterprises. As a baseline, CSA provides resources for various enterprise stakeholders, such as SME owners, employees and cybersecurity personnel. Enterprises looking to implement cybersecurity measures can refer to the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust certification marks, which were developed as national cybersecurity standards in 2022.
To assist enterprises that need help with cybersecurity certification, CSA launched the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)-as-a-Service scheme in 2023. CISO-as-a-Service complements IMDA's CTO-as-a-service scheme. It onboards cybersecurity consultants to help enterprises develop cybersecurity health plans to implement the preventive measures in Cyber Essentials. This has benefited over 270 enterprises and we will continue to do more to improve enterprise cyber hygiene standards.
We aligned SMEs Go Digital with the Cyber Essentials mark last year. Under the pre-approved solutions, SMEs can now subscribe to an integrated package covering anti-malware, firewall and backup. We also required pre-approved solutions under SMEs Go Digital to meet minimum data protection and security controls standards.
Going forward, CSA will expand Cyber Essentials and Cyber Trust in the first half of 2025 to cover the security of digital technologies, like cloud and AI, keeping them relevant for the evolving digital landscape.
Besides uplifting standards, CSA will introduce a post-incident reporting and response function on CISO-as-a-Service. Cybersecurity incidents cannot be fully prevented. It is more important for enterprises to be resilient and recover from incidents. Under this new function, enterprises can approach their CISO-as-a-Service consultants to help contain and recover from cybersecurity incidents. Members can refer to the handout for a summary of our enterprise digitalisation and cybersecurity efforts.
Sir, I will give the updates till here and I will answer questions later on.
The Chairman : Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam.
The Minister of State for Digital Development and Information (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) : Mr Chairman, many of us would find it hard to imagine our lives without the Internet or digital devices. In a survey conducted by MDDI in 2023, 80% of respondents agreed it was important for them to stay connected to the Internet.
There are healthy ways of using digital technologies to enhance our lives, just as there are unhealthy ways that open us up to risks. My speech will focus on MDDI's efforts to galvanise our community, to build a society where citizens enjoy access to digital services that are essential to daily living; proficiency in using digital technologies; and safe, healthy and positive digital experiences through a whole-of-society effort. I thank Mr Keith Chua for his interest in these efforts.
Let me start with access to digital technologies. Singapore is a highly connected nation; 98% of our resident households are connected to the Internet. But we must pay attention to those who are at risk of being left out. IMDA helps those who cannot afford it. Ms Hany Soh asked for an update on IMDA's schemes.
DigitalAccess@Home has supported over 20,000 low-income households with subsidised broadband access, a laptop or tablet, or both broadband and a computing device since 2023. The Mobile Access for Seniors scheme has also supported low-income seniors with over 15,000 packages of subsidised smartphones and mobile plans, or mobile plans only, since 2020.
Beyond connectivity and devices, day-to-day digital services need to be user-friendly. For some Singaporeans, like seniors and persons with disabilities, navigating services which are not designed to meet their needs can be challenging. A well-designed website or app can make a world of difference. That is why Singpass was enhanced in 2022 to support features, such as Dark Mode and Screen Reader, that enable those with visual impairments to navigate Singpass with greater ease.
Mr Alex Yam asked about more efforts in this area. The Government takes inclusive design seriously and Government agencies are expected to be user-centric when designing their digital services. GovTech will do more to support agencies in this.
This year, we are updating the Digital Service Standards (DSS) which guide agencies in designing user-friendly digital services. The updated DSS will better explain international standards, like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), to agencies and provide recommendations on how to meet these standards. In addition, there will be greater emphasis on user testing before launch for high-traffic Government websites to make sure they are user-friendly.
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We have also rolled out tools that agencies can use to support inclusive design. For example, GovTech developed the Oobee tool, previously known as Purple A11y, which uses a bot to help agencies test how easy their websites are to use and suggest improvements. GovTech will continue to enhance tools to help agencies identify and resolve such issues. These efforts provide agencies with stronger guidance and support to develop digital services that are easy for all to use, regardless of age or digital ability.
GovTech will provide dedicated support to agencies with high traffic digital services. But the Government cannot drive this effort alone. Today, Singaporeans use a variety of commercial digital services daily. The private sector plays an important part in designing user-friendly digital services. We want to encourage and partner them in this.
The Oobee tool, which I mentioned earlier, is open-sourced and freely available for private sector companies to use. We encourage more to make use of this.
Last year, GovTech held the inaugural Co-Creation Lab, which brought together representatives from Government agencies, private sector companies as well as community users. We were heartened to see so many partners step forward to understand the challenges that seniors and persons with disabilities face when using digital services, such as making e-payments, using ride-hailing apps and making healthcare appointments. These conversations helped service providers identify improvements to their services to make them user-friendly. The Co-Creation Lab demonstrated the need to strengthen partnerships across the public, private and people sectors.
MDDI will launch a workgroup with partners from the public, private and people sectors to co-create and co-deliver initiatives to develop digital services that are more user-friendly. Details on this workgroup will be announced later.
Even as we enhance the user-friendliness of digital services, we acknowledge that some Singaporeans will need physical support to access Government services. Dr Tan Wu Meng and Ms Denise Phua highlighted this in the Budget debate and Mr Gerald Giam raised this in his cut.
Residents who need assistance with Government digital transactions can continue to get in-person assistance at Government agencies' physical service touchpoints. Trained service ambassadors will assist less digitally confident individuals with their transactions. Residents can also visit ServiceSG centres for assistance with 600 frequently used Government services and schemes. The Government will continue to be citizen-centric in our approach and make non-digital options available so that no one is left out.
Let me move on to digital skills. Two in three Singaporeans have basic digital skills and are able to carry out day-to-day tasks online, such as buying products and services, searching for information and making contactless payments using a smartphone.
To set ourselves up well for the digital future, Singaporeans also have to learn new technologies, such as Gen AI, which can help us with daily tasks. This upskilling is critical, as Ms Denise Phua emphasised in the Budget debate. Without this, the increasing use of Gen AI around us, like how many businesses now use chatbots to deliver customer services, can feel alien and scary. To demystify Gen AI, we must understand its risks and limitations and learn how to use it responsibly. The Government will continue to support less digitally-savvy citizens.
Mr Gerald Giam and Ms Hany Soh asked about Seniors Go Digital. The SG Digital Office (SDO) will continue to help citizens acquire the digital skills needed for day-to-day living based on the Digital Skills for Life (DSL) framework. This prevents digital isolation, as Miss Rachel Ong raised in the Budget debate.
Since 2020, SDO has trained more than 370,000 seniors. Ninety-six percent of seniors communicate online as of 2023, up from 87% in 2017.
IMDA will be enhancing the DSL framework with content on Gen AI, explaining the basics of it, its risks and how to manage them, and applications for daily activities, like generating recommendations for places to eat at or leisure activities to try. Interested learners can register for SDO workshops or learn at their own pace through resources on the Digital for Life Portal. There are also many Singaporeans who are keen to embrace new technologies like AI.
Mr Alex Yam asked about new library initiatives to encourage tech adoption. Over the next few years, our public libraries will be rolling out showcases that allow the public to experience uses of Gen AI. We hope that these showcases will demonstrate the practical value of AI in daily life, excite citizens about these possibilities and at the same time, help them understand the limitations and learn how to use AI responsibly. Gen AI is a useful tool, but it cannot replace learning or original thought.
These are just some of the activities that citizens can enjoy at our public libraries as National Library Board (NLB) celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025. NLB will host a series of "NLB30" events to mark 30 years and beyond of empowering Singaporeans to read, learn and discover together. More details will be announced later this year. Sir, I will say a few words in Malay.
(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] One of the best ways for us to learn to use cutting-edge technology is to do it together with like-minded individuals.
A pioneering initiative that creates opportunities for communities to gather and learn together is Lorong AI. It is a community hub that provides space for those who share similarities, interests and skills in AI to explore how they can drive AI development together. Through this platform, they exchange ideas and discuss the latest discoveries. They also create prototypes and explore the use of AI in our daily lives.
Mr Muhammad Zahari bin Abu Talib plays a crucial role in Lorong AI. As Community Lead, he helps connect individuals, initiates discussions and links various groups. I personally felt their enthusiasm for learning, sharing and collaborating when I attended one of the AI Wednesdays sharing sessions organised by Lorong AI.
Within our Malay/Muslim community, many have already begun exploring AI. A group called PEREKA, comprising Malay/Muslim designers from various fields, shared how they use AI to improve their work. I had the opportunity to meet them recently, and was very excited to hear how they leverage AI to enhance their work processes.
The aim is not to replace human creativity, but to facilitate the ideation process and gather information. All this is to produce design features that align with our cultural values and identity and at the same time, ensuring that the human touch remains at the core throughout the design process.
I really hope that more dynamic local groups like these will emerge so that they can learn together and spark interesting ideas to harness technology for the well-being of Singaporeans.
( In English ): Mr Chairman, let me now turn to how we are equipping the future generation to benefit from Gen AI. We have an existing Code for Fun programme offered to all primary and secondary schools, which exposes students to computational thinking through coding as well as inventive thinking through digital making. From this year onwards, the Code for Fun programme will incorporate new AI for Fun modules, which provide students with hands-on opportunities to tinker with AI technology.
For instance, primary school students will be taught how to use an appropriate Gen AI platform to generate stories and images to create a digital storyboard. Students will be taught the risks of Gen AI, such as biases and hallucinations, and the need to check AI-generated content against other sources.
About 60% of primary schools and 40% of secondary schools will introduce AI for Fun this year. It is our endeavour to ensure that every Singaporean, regardless of age, is encouraged to learn, use and have fun with new technologies in an informed and responsible way.
This brings me to the topic of online safety. Incidents that take place online, like the generation and dissemination of deepfake nude photos, cause real-life damage and are unacceptable. About 74% of Singaporeans had encountered harmful online content in 2024. This has led some people to be fearful of the Internet and how it appears to be changing the fabric of our society. But it is important to recognise that these harms are not caused by technology in itself, but by bad actors and bad behaviour.
The Government will do our part to reduce online risks. Minister Josephine Teo earlier spoke about our regulations to make designated social media services and app distribution services responsible for putting in place safety measures to protect their users from harmful content.
However, regulations are not foolproof. Bans and age limits like those being contemplated in other countries may sound compelling but, in reality, there will always be ways to circumvent such rules and restrictions, as Mr Eric Chua has pointed out.
Citizens must also take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones online. Parents play a critical role in guiding their child's digital journey. The Government shares parents' concerns over excessive screen use and exposure to online risks amongst children.
The Ministry of Health's updated guidance on screen use under Grow Well SG and the Parenting for Wellness Initiative equip parents so that they can better protect their children from inappropriate content and instil good screen use habits. Parents can also find bite-sized resources on IMDA's Digital for Life portal. Members may refer to the handout for a list of these resources. A Positive Use Guide on Technology and Social Media will also be available later this year.
Youths are a key group of citizens who shape online behaviour and culture. Youths should be encouraged to use their influence to foster a positive online environment. I was encouraged to see students championing a kinder Internet at a recent digital well-being roadshow at the Singapore Management University. One booth featured an interactive game that showed participants how to navigate online conversations and respond to their friends with care and kindness. Over 650 students participated in the two-day roadshow.
Toxic online discourse is worrying because it undermines our ability to understand one another and disrupts our social cohesion. As Mr Alex Yam mentioned, we must be civic-minded in the online space, just as how we conduct ourselves in our shared physical spaces like our neighbourhoods, parks and schools.
The Government is committed to exploring new ways to nurture a positive online space. We will study issues like online polarisation that can negatively impact our social cohesion and explore ways to encourage a culture of positivity and civic-mindedness online.
In the work that the Government does, it is always important to check in on the sentiments of the community. This allows us to accurately identify Singaporeans' concerns and align with the expectation for a responsive Government.
Mr Gerald Giam shared his experience with surveys and asked if they were commissioned by the Government. It is unfortunate that the poster did not disclose to Mr Giam the identity of the commissioning party for the survey. Without the benefit of seeing the actual questionnaire, it is difficult to say for sure that the surveys were conducted by the Government.
In MDDI's case, we conduct regular polls to gauge the public's awareness of scams as well as the quality of mainstream and online media and the public's news consumption habits. When asked by respondents, our representatives would identify MDDI as the commissioning agency for the surveys.
We conduct the media polls to help Government agencies adjust their public communication efforts to better reach target segments on key national policies. They also help shape our public broadcast funding. The poll findings on scams help MDDI to shape our policies to tackle online harm.
The findings from the Government-commissioned surveys —
The Chairman : Minister of State Rahayu, you might want to round up.
Ms Rahayu Mahzam : Yes, just two more paragraphs.
The findings from the Government-commissioned surveys are shared publicly when it is useful to do so. However, as the surveys are commissioned primarily to shape public policy, not all findings are suitable for public release.
As to Mr Giam's concern that Government-commissioned surveys could be used for non-public policy purposes, funding for such surveys is subject to the same governance requirements as other forms of public expenditure undertaken by Government agencies.
To conclude, Mr Chairman, we invite everyone – individuals, companies and community organisations – to become a partner of the Digital for Life movement and join us in our efforts to help Singapore build an inclusive and cohesive digital society. All of us have a part to play in making our online space a safe, healthy and positive one.
The Chairman : Ms Tin Pei Ling.
Ms Tin Pei Ling : Chairman, I have three clarifications. First of all, it is heartening to hear of the many measures put in place to protect Singaporeans better from online harms. I would also like to find out what more will be done or has been done so far to protect citizens from scams so that they will feel safe, competent and more confident to interact and transact online, which is also part of the trust that we talked about.
Secondly, it is about DeepSeek. Sir, I would like to ask what are some of the lessons drawn from the recent emergence of DeepSeek, since it has been touted to be cheaper and greener, and also the implications to us in Singapore, whether it is even possible for us to distill something that is unique to Singapore.
Lastly, picking up on the point on funding vernacular media, I think vernacular media has a strategic part to play, especially in projecting Singapore's voice and opinion on key issues internationally. Zaobao, for example, has a very strong presence and network in certain areas or regions. It has been very useful in asserting our point of view.
So, I would like to ask whether the funding support in this area will be continued or strengthened and what else might we be doing to boost this so that we can strengthen Singapore's position on the world stage.
Mrs Josephine Teo : Mr Chairman, I would, first, like to thank Ms Tin for her acknowledgement of our efforts and in particular, her recognition of the importance of preserving our vernacular media.
If we think about the need to continue projecting Singapore's voice on the international stage, in fact, the role of the vernacular media becomes even more prominent. So, I wish to recognise her acknowledgement and affirm it.
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The big chunk of the Public Service Media funding support is directed towards helping our Public Service Media entities become more relevant in the digital era, so the technology upgrades are essential to this. But we have always maintained that at the same time we want to support quality journalism and that cuts across all language medium. And in particular, recognising that the domestic market for our vernacular media is actually very small, they need extra support. So, the understanding with the public service media entities is that they must set aside adequate resources, and the KPIs do track the performance of the vernacular media.
I think that how they do on the KPIs is not just a matter of looking at their performance, but it is also a matter of helping us understand how the landscape is changing and what more is required to support the continued viability of vernacular media.
Let me also take Ms Tin's question on how MDDI is working to support the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the lead agency in addressing scams. We do so broadly in two ways, first by disrupting and making it harder for scammers to reach Singaporeans, whether by calls, SMSes, or apps infected with malware, because that is really how the victims fall. This is what we, within the working group, call the "attack factor". Second, by developing technology to support MHA's detection and disruption of scam activities. So, those are the two main areas of support.
Maybe to give the Member some sense of the usefulness of these efforts, in 2023, IMDA implemented the full SMS sender ID registry regime and non-registered SMSes are labelled as "likely scams". I am sure we have all gotten them. I certainly have gotten them. And this has been effective. Cases of scam SMSes fell by 70% in the first three months of the regime's introduction and thereafter, it has remained low. IMDA also partnered with telcos to strengthen in network detection and blocking of scam calls and SMSes.
In 2024, 117 million potential scam calls from overseas were blocked. They were about 25% of all international calls. For SMSes, 50 million potential scam SMSes were successfully blocked. IMDA also worked with telcos to offer new features to block all incoming international calls and SMSes, meaning that from the subscriber standpoint, I do not want to be at risk at all, I do not want to just depend on your auto blocking, I do not wish to get any of these calls. And to date, more than 280,000 subscribers have activated the feature to block overseas calls and close to 220,000 subscribers have activated the feature to block overseas SMSes.
I mentioned briefly in my earlier speech how we are working with Google for the enhanced fraud protection feature. This feature is turned on in Singapore by default and it has successfully blocked 1.6 million attempts to install potentially malicious apps across nearly 400,000 devices. If I add GovTech's working with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to disrupt 45,000 scam related websites and also IMDA working with SPF to disrupt more than 57,000 mobile lines assessed to be likely used for scams, these are very considerable efforts. But we are not stopping at the above measures. We are working with telcos and online platforms to address criminal misuse of their services.
The Chairman : Senior Minister of State Janil. I hope replies will also be short because I can see quite a few hands. I really want everyone to keep your replies and responses short.
Dr Janil Puthucheary : Sir, I thank Ms Tin for the question. We are still studying the matter. According to DeepSeek, there are hardware and software optimisations that have brought down the training and inference costs, and then by extension, this makes the compute greener because less energy is needed, a fraction of the compute.
If it is true, and seeing as the company has made their model open source, there is indeed a possible positive development for advancing the efforts around resource efficient AI. However, there are counter claims that the actual compute cluster may have been much larger than reported and there may have been distillation of closed models. So, the facts around the matter are unclear, and we are still studying the matter to learn how best we can deploy compute power here in Singapore to advance our ambitions.
The Chairman : Mr Sharael Taha.
Mr Sharael Taha : Mr Chairman, I would like to thank Minister Teo and the team for answering the cuts. Three questions from me. Regarding the botnet case shared by Minister, were the owners of the 2,700 affected devices informed? And how do we prevent assets in Singapore from being exploited by these botnet networks?
The annex distributed mentions the recommendation to purchase IoT devices with the CSA cybersecurity labelling scheme. Is there an intention for all IoT devices sold in Singapore to undergo assessment for the CSA label?
Secondly, for Senior Minister of State Janil, even with the optimised compute that we have discussed earlier, will Singapore's data centre sustainability requirements impact our global competitiveness in AI? And given that added compliance cost and the upcoming carbon tax, could this drive companies to set up data centres elsewhere, making the timeline for studying alternative energy sources even more urgent for us?
And lastly, my last question was something that was not answered in the response. For Senior Minister of State Tan, in Budget 2024, it was announced that there would be collaborations with industry to drive AI adoption and innovation. Can the Ministry provide an update on these collaborations with the industry, please?
The Chairman : Who wants to take replies first? Y es, there is one for Senior Minister of State Janil and one for Senior Minister of State Tan.
Dr Janil Puthucheary : Sir, I thank Mr Sharael Taha for his question. Essentially, whether or not the push for green data centres will affect our global competitiveness and drive up costs, indeed, we have to balance the compliance costs with the requirements. But there is plenty of interest in the market and if we can get this right, then this is a value-add and a potential source of competitiveness that we can be a place where the technology providers, the cloud service providers can set up greener facilities, and their customers are looking for this type of solutions.
So, while we do have to make sure that we get the balance correct between the costs of compliance and the push for greening, it is something that we have to do because of our larger issues around our carbon envelope. But if we can do it right, it becomes a source of competitiveness for us.
Mr Tan Kiat How : Sir, in the first tranche of the Digital Enterprise Blueprint Partnerships, we have seven partners pledging to support our enterprises and workers across the various initiatives under the Digital Enterprise Blueprint. The partners include, for example, the Singapore Business Federation, Microsoft, Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, DBS Bank, as well as the Singapore Computer Society and SG Tech. To date, they have conducted six events to uplift the capabilities of pre-approved vendors in cloud technologies, cybersecurity and Gen AI. They also delivered AI and data analytics workshops for nearly 1,000 SMEs, helping them thrive in today's technology driven business environment.
And we will continue expanding our network of partnership. Last November we announced a partnership with DBS, for example, with Enterprise Singapore and IMDA to amplify our reach to 50,000 SMEs and supercharge their productivity through accelerating Gen AI adoption. So, Mr Sharael Taha will be pleased to know that we will be sharing upcoming collaborations with new partners, for example, with Alibaba Cloud to raise capabilities of solution providers in AI and cloud technologies, and another one with ST Engineering to improve cyber resilience amongst SMEs. So, we welcome more partners to join us to create a robust ecosystem where enterprises and workers can thrive.
The Chairman : Mr Singh. Sorry, Minister Teo, you want to jump in now? For the first question, yes.
Mrs Josephine Teo : Mr Chairman, in the nature of such botnet disruption operations, speed is of the essence and you want to be as comprehensive as possible. So, with those important considerations in mind, it is not possible to attempt even to inform all of the owners of the devices. Instead, what we regularly advise people to do is that as long as you have a device that is connected to the Internet, there are some hygiene practices that should be practised: changing the default password, restarting or rebooting regularly and enabling automatic firmware updates. These are the general guidance that apply to everyone.
And in cybersecurity there is also another term that we say and that is "assume breach". It is something that you just have to keep in mind. You have to be vigilant and assume that the device may well have been compromised, and you need to do something to clean it up regularly.
The Chairman : Mr Pritam Singh.
Mr Pritam Singh : Sir, following up on my cut and the Minister's response to my cut, I mean, if you compare the two titles that I referred to in my cut, CNA and Straits Times, both serious mainstream English publications, it would be inevitable that members of the public would have a view about which they would opine is of a higher quality. I do not think there is anything untoward about that.
The question that was the nub of the issue I was seeking to raise was on KPIs, which is the title of the cut. If I heard the Minister correctly, Minister said that reach is an important KPI, but not the only KPI. And I stand corrected if I am wrong, Minister then said that trust and satisfaction levels are KPIs that the Ministry was looking to introduce. So, can I confirm that those KPIs actually are not KPIs that are considered currently?
Mrs Josephine Teo : Mr Chairman, when we set out to provide funding to any useful activity, we have to consider in that moment what are useful and effective ways to track performance and we do so very diligently. When funding was discussed in support of SPH Media Trust at the time, reach was one of the important KPIs. Over time, we also considered that engagement is important, is actually one of them, but in addition to that, we now think that trust as well as public satisfaction are just as important, so we will look to including them as part of the KPIs that we track for SPH Media Trust.
To the Member's question that he posed in his cut earlier, I should address it briefly too. He had asked about what goes into the Budget book. And I acknowledge his suggestions, which we will consider for the future, but just to say that, like all Ministries, it is not possible to list all of the KPIs. So, I seek Member's understanding for that. The important thing is that where SMT is concerned, they know very well that the KPIs are a very central feature of the conversations that we have, and they can feel it. So, that is something I want to say.
The comparison between ST and CNA, well, the fact of the matter is that opinions will differ. If you ask 10 people their views, probably you will get 15 at least. So, I think we take that as a given. We track how the public views the trustworthiness of these titles and we will continue to do so. And as I shared in my speech, as well as on other occasions, they compare very favourably.
The Chairman : Mr Alex Yam.
Mr Alex Yam : Thank you, Mr Chairman. Clarification for the Minister of State. She spoke at length earlier about the NLB as well as adoption of AI. As we know, AI is quite ubiquitous today, so how will NLB ensure that the adoption of AI remains respectful towards authors and content creators, and of course not diminish the value of creativity and hard work in coming out with content?
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Ms Rahayu Mahzam : Indeed, NLB sees Gen AI as a useful tool and seeks to provide the platforms and opportunities for both to be edified about it. But we are also respectful of the different interests. We do see strong public interest in the different AI prototypes. An example is the NLB's interactive ChatBook featuring S Rajaratnam, which was powered by Gen AI.
So, what NLB does is that it takes a measured approach to developing such prototypes and implements safeguards, such as using controlled datasets, securing copyrights and permissions from authors and creators to use their works, and carrying out extensive testing. This ensures that AI is used ethically and responsibly to complement, not replace, the efforts of authors and creators.
Through such prototypes, NLB also hopes to help visitors discover writers, stories and content and experience them in different ways.
The Chairman : Mr Gerald Giam.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song : Sir, I note that Minister of State Rahayu said that citizens who are less digitally-savvy can get in-person assistance. Can I confirm that all Government agencies are expected to provide in-person assistance for their e-services?
Second, can the Minister of State also confirm that all pollsters engaged by the Government are expected to disclose that they were commissioned by the Government and name the agency without being requested by the respondent?
Lastly, can the Ministry also look into publishing at least summaries of these public opinion surveys?
Ms Rahayu Mahzam : Mr Chairman, let me take the second and third questions.
In respect of the surveys, just to clarify, MDDI does not coordinate all surveys that are done by the Government because each Government agency will have to look at that individually. They will have different needs and may address different issues. So, we cannot confirm that.
It may be that, for some surveys, there may be a preference to have it as anonymised in that sense because the response, if you are told that it is something that is asked by the Government, may then not be accurate and may be skewed because if you are asked, say, for benefits, whether they should be improved or increased, without assessing the situation, the person might just respond because it is the Government, expecting that it should be changed, to just ask for more.
So, I think there are certain considerations which I would not want to assume, because different agencies may do it differently.
On the Member's third question, all surveys are done in the interest of the public. It is really, where possible, if the information that is garnered from those surveys is useful, we would want to put it up. We want to be as rich as possible so as to encourage public discussion.
But there are certain matters that may not be as suitable. Considerations include, let us say, some data include confidential or personal data that can be reidentified if it is put out there. There may be certain sensitivities in issues of, say, racial and religious issues, if we have done surveys on that and certain matters come up. And there may be certain understanding or contracts that we may have with certain agencies that we partner in doing some of those surveys.
So, there are different considerations for different surveys and, therefore, there is a different approach.
The Member had one more question. Yes, on our services. I think we endeavour as much as possible to make sure that there are alternatives and support. Like I said, we set up the ServiceSG centres for the purposes of that. As much as possible, we will endeavour to make sure that those who are in need, who are unable to access it, will be able to get the help they need. And I think that can be done in many different forms. So, if there are concerns highlighted to us, we will see how we can close those gaps.
The Chairman : I am sorry, we have run out of time, Ms Jessica Tan and Mr Ong Hua Han. Can I invite Ms Tin Pei Ling, if you would like to withdraw the amendment?
Ms Tin Pei Ling : I would like to express my sincere thanks to Minister Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary as well as Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How and Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam, as well as all the MDDI family officers. Thank you for the hard work. It is, indeed, a complex amount of work that has to be put in in order to position us well in the digital realm.
With that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.
[(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)]
[(proc text) The sum of $2,956,698,500 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)]
[(proc text) The sum of $103,188,200 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]
The Chairman : We have sat in here for almost five hours. So, I propose to take a break now. Order.
[(proc text) Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House. (proc text)]
Mr Speaker : Order. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair at 3.10 pm. Order.
Sitting accordingly suspended
at 2.51 pm until 3.10 pm.
Sitting resumed at 3.10 pm
[Deputy Speaker (Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo) in the Chair]