# Capabilities to Detect and Prevent Communications of Real-time Deepfake Impersonations

- Date: 2026-08-05
- Added: 2026-09-04
- Who: Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim · Mr K Shanmugam
- Source: https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=written-answer-na-24281
- sgai: https://sgai.md/debates/written-answer-na-24281/
- License: sgai-authored content (summaries, translations, analysis) is CC BY 4.0 — attribute and link to sgai.md. Verbatim source text (Hansard, speeches, transcripts, policy documents) remains © its original rights holders and is reproduced for reference only. Terms: https://github.com/meltflake/sgai/blob/main/DATA-LICENSE.md

## Why it matters

To counter deepfake impersonation of officials, the Government will roll out a single number prefix for all agency calls, piloted by the Singapore Police Force in 2026, while OCHA already requires platforms to use facial recognition to detect deepfakes.

## Summary

Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim asked the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, in writing, what capabilities are being developed to detect real-time deepfake communications in light of scams impersonating Government officials, and whether the Government would consider secure authentication methods such as digital signatures or a verified official channel for high-stakes communications with citizens and businesses. Senior Minister K Shanmugam replied that several anti-scam measures have been imposed under the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) requiring designated online service providers to detect and remove deepfakes used to perpetrate scams, including user verification requirements and the use of facial recognition technology to identify such deepfakes; the Government regularly reviews the adequacy of these measures and will tighten them if necessary. To make legitimate Government communications more identifiable, the Government will introduce a single recognisable number prefix for all Government agencies' calls to the public, which the Singapore Police Force will pilot later this year, and is considering tagging Government agency calls with recognisable caller names, similar to the gov.sg SMS Sender ID. He stressed that the best defence against scams is a discerning public: Government officials will never ask anyone to transfer money, disclose bank log-in details over a phone call or install apps from unofficial app stores, and anyone in doubt can check with the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

## Key points

- Under OCHA, designated online service providers must detect and remove deepfakes used for scams, including through user verification requirements and facial recognition technology
- The Government regularly reviews the adequacy of anti-scam measures and will tighten them if necessary
- A single recognisable number prefix for all Government agencies' calls to the public will be introduced, piloted by the Singapore Police Force later this year
- The Government is considering tagging agency calls with recognisable caller names, similar to the gov.sg SMS Sender ID
- A discerning public is framed as the best defence: officials never ask for money transfers or bank log-in details, and the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline 1799 can verify doubtful calls

## Full text

© Parliament of Singapore — reproduced for reference only.

97 Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim asked the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs in light of scams involving deepfake impersonation of Government officials (a) what capabilities are being developed to detect such real-time deepfake communications; and (b) whether the Government will consider secure authentication methods, such as digital signatures or a verified official channel, for high-stakes communications with citizens and businesses.

Mr K Shanmugam : We have imposed several anti-scam measures under the Online Criminal Harms Act to require designated online service providers to detect and remove deepfakes that are used to perpetrate scams. These include user verification requirements and the use of facial recognition technology to identify such deepfakes. We regularly review the adequacy of our anti-scam measures and will impose tighter requirements if necessary.

The Government is also taking steps to improve the identifiability of legitimate Government communications. We will introduce a single recognisable number prefix for all Government agencies to use for their calls with members of the public, which the Singapore Police Force will pilot later this year. We are also considering tagging calls from Government agencies with recognisable caller names, similar to the gov.sg SMS Sender ID.

Ultimately, the best defence against scams is a discerning public. We would like to remind the public that Government officials will never ask you to transfer money, disclose bank log-in details over a phone call or install mobile applications from unofficial app stores. If in doubt of the legitimacy of a call, check with the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.