預算辯論 · 2025-03-07 · 屆國會 14

數字基礎設施與安全發展

AI 經濟與產業 AI 基礎設施與研究 AI 與公共部門 爭議度 2 · 溫和質詢

議員質詢數字基礎設施的韌性與安全保障措施，關注雲服務和資料中心的安全指南。政府強調新加坡數字經濟增長顯著，已釋出指導提升基礎設施安全，確保數字轉型可持續且包容。核心爭議在於如何進一步強化基礎設施以應對全天候運營風險。

關鍵要點

  • • 數字經濟快速增長
  • • 數字基礎設施安全關鍵
  • • 釋出雲服務安全指南
政府立場

加強數字基礎設施韌性與安全

質詢立場

關注基礎設施安全與持續發展

政策訊號

強化數字基礎設施安全

“A small failure in our digital infrastructure can cause major disruptions to our economic activities and daily lives.”

參與人員 (19)

完整譯文（中文）

Hansard 原始記錄 · 2026-05-02

主席：數字發展與信息部Q組負責人。田佩玲女士。

12點26分

可持續且安全的數字增長

田佩玲女士（麥波申選區）：主席，我提出動議，“將預算中Q組的總撥款減少100元。”

數字化是我們當前的現實，也是不可避免的未來。這場轉型不僅僅是技術升級，更是從根本上重塑我們的社會、經濟和生活方式。它帶來了巨大的經濟機遇，承諾為未來世代提供更高的生活質量。

新加坡歷來不懼怕變革，自獨立以來經歷了多次戰略轉型。鑑於今年是新加坡建國60週年，這一點尤為意義重大。我們最新的數字化推動已見成效，數字經濟從2017年佔國內生產總值（GDP）的13%增長到2022年的17.3%。

然而，隨著我們加快邁向數字未來的步伐，我們也必須確保數字驅動的增長是可持續的、包容的且對所有人安全。

我認為實現數字成功未來有幾個關鍵因素，即：世界級的數字基礎設施、充滿活力的人才社群和生態系統、企業的廣泛採用、可持續和綠色發展、安全且包容的數字社會，以及更強的全球合作。

在這次開場削減中，我將重點關注世界級數字基礎設施、可持續和綠色發展以及安全包容的數字社會。

新加坡歷來提前大量投資建設基礎設施，以便浪潮來臨時我們能乘風破浪。因此，支撐我們數字增長的必須是高效能、韌性強且安全的數字基礎設施，包括寬頻網路、雲服務、資料中心和高效能運算能力。

新加坡在最近的IMD世界數字競爭力排名中，數字基礎設施位列亞洲第一。這絕非易事，只有經過多年的精心規劃和努力工作才可能實現。因此，我們不能鬆懈。更重要的是，在數字世界中，一切全天候執行。數字基礎設施的一個小故障就可能對我們的經濟活動和日常生活造成重大幹擾。

因此，部長能否分享正在採取哪些措施進一步建設我們的數字基礎設施，並確保其韌性和安全？

我注意到信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）上個月釋出了雲服務提供商和資料中心的諮詢指南，以增強其韌性和安全性。部長能否詳細說明這些指南中的關鍵措施，以及它們如何幫助運營商提升韌性和安全措施？

隨著人工智慧（AI）在各行業和部門橫向及縱向的日益整合，數字技術的整體採用率提高，對資料中心和更高計算能力的需求將增加。因此，能源需求也將呈指數增長。

12點30分

資料中心作為數字經濟的支柱，目前消耗全球約1%至1.5%的電力，高盛研究預計，到2027年這一數字將增長50%，到2030年相比2023年可能增長高達165%。例如，訓練先進的AI模型，其碳足跡相當於每處理一單位文本駕駛汽油車行駛5至20英里。因此，在擁抱數字化的同時，我們必須加快脫碳步伐，增強能源安全，減少對棕色能源的依賴。

因此，部長能否闡述政府在平衡數字基礎設施增長與環境可持續承諾方面的策略？我們是否可以考慮設立結構化專案，推動各行業使用節能演算法？

我們是否可以考慮制定更具指導性的準則，建議行業在設計軟體時採用何種硬體型別和標準？目前IMDA和微軟已制定了軟體開發相關準則。是否有擴充套件這些準則的空間？

儘管存在地緣政治敏感性，我們能從DeepSeek的經驗中學到什麼？據稱其比其他AI模型更便宜且更環保。政府將如何確保獲得更多綠色能源，以支援新加坡的可持續數字發展？

最後，信任是社會的基石，而數字社會的信任基礎是確保其對所有人包容且安全。

數字未來要真正成功，新加坡人必須能夠輕鬆訪問數字服務，並有意義地參與數字經濟。他們在線上互動和交易時也應感到安全。為此，我們的數字發展與資訊政府議會委員會（GPC）於去年一月提出動議，“重申我們採用全民方法，通過建設包容且安全的數字社會來維持信任的承諾”。委員們討論了確保包容且安全數字社會的必要性，並提出了13項行動呼籲以實現這一目標。

部長能否更新自2024年一月提出這13項行動呼籲以來的進展或實施情況？

在確保安全方面，黃循財總理在啟動智慧國2.0時提到將出臺新法保護網路受害者。最近的媒體報道指出，上個月尋求網路傷害支援中心幫助的人數幾乎翻倍，網路傷害呈上升趨勢。因此，我們有新的緊迫性和必要性加強保護網路受害者。部長能否提供更多關於新法如何應對網路傷害的細節？

我還有時間，請允許我用普通話發言。

（普通話）：[請參閱方言發言。] 主席，邁向數字經濟是新加坡的必由之路。成功有兩個重要因素。第一，我們必須繼續使數字經濟綠色且可持續；第二，確保公民更深度參與，使他們共享進步成果。

基於第二點，我們需要確保建設一個安全且包容的數字社會，讓公民能夠安心且有意義地參與數字經濟發展。

去年，GPC在議會提出動議，提出了13項行動呼籲。我希望政府能聚焦這13項呼籲，持續提升數字社會的整體安全。希望部長能就這些呼籲作出更新。

此外，我們是否也應考慮立法加強打擊有害行為，如網路犯罪、詐騙和欺凌？希望部長能提供更多相關資訊。

（英語）：先生，如果數字增長和實現數字未來不能持續，且人民感到不安全或無法享受數字化帶來的利益，那麼我們的努力將毫無意義。因此，我請求動議。

[(程式文本) 動議提出。 (程式文本)]

主席：田佩玲女士，再次發言。您可以將剩餘的發言合併。

國家人工智慧戰略2.0進展更新

面向商業的人工智慧

數字人才與社群

數字未來的全球合作

利用人工智慧推動商業發展

田佩玲女士：先生，在我的開場發言及過去在本院的演講中，我闡述了為何數字化對國家增長和福祉至關重要。我談到了隨之而來的機遇與挑戰。我還分享了我認為實現數字成功未來的幾個關鍵因素，即：世界級數字基礎設施、充滿活力的人才社群和生態系統、企業的廣泛採用、可持續和綠色發展、安全且包容的數字社會，以及更強的全球合作。

這裡，我將談談人才與生態系統、對企業的支援以及全球合作。

聚焦人工智慧，新加坡在國家人工智慧戰略（NAIS）2.0報告中有明確策略。報告指出，人工智慧不再是機遇，而是必需品，必須從專案走向系統，從本地走向全球。

NAIS 2.0自2023年12月釋出已逾一年，部長能否分享政府和產業在推動採用、試驗和創新方面的一些努力和成果？

在NAIS 2.0中，人才和社群構成重要體系。我完全同意。沒有合適的人力資本，數字未來無法實現。我們必須培養年輕人，建設本土人才管道，並吸引全球最優秀的人才。

我們不僅希望培養新加坡人具備抓住國內外機遇的能力，還希望他們能與頂尖人才切磋交流。通過培育充滿活力的人才、研究機構和企業社群，思想可以交叉融合，合作得以實現，我們能創造一個惠及經濟和人民的良性創新迴圈。公私合作及強有力的同行協作對提供有意義的機會至關重要，這將使人才留在新加坡。

因此，部長能否更新加強人才儲備和提升人才及合作伙伴社群“留存力”的相關措施？

接下來，本地企業是推動經濟的關鍵引擎。我們必須幫助本地企業採用新技術，使創新力量充分釋放，惠及經濟和新加坡人。

多年來，政府已採取重大措施支援企業採用新技術。然而，隨著生成式人工智慧模型的突破，如近期出現的模型，我們必須加倍努力。各行業企業必須將人工智慧納入核心戰略和運營。需要針對特定行業及不同數字成熟度的企業採取更有針對性的方法，幫助它們前進。

隨著多個行業數字化計劃（IDPs）的更新，以及法律和旅遊行業新IDPs的推出，部長能否闡述這些計劃如何針對行業特定的人工智慧工具和挑戰進行定製？IMDA如何支援不同數字成熟度階段的企業採用和利用生成式人工智慧技術？部長預期這些新舉措將為中小企業帶來哪些具體益處？

同時，地緣政治緊張，尤其是美中競爭，帶來挑戰。企業在選擇生成式人工智慧平臺時需要明確性和保障。例如，有些企業可能因美國製裁擔憂使用DeepSeek的人工智慧模型。在應對這些複雜局勢時，我們是否有空間為企業提供更明確的指導和支援，使其在不擔心遭受兩大國報復或制裁的情況下采用技術？

基於黃振輝議員在預算辯論中的觀點，我同意必須建立一個能考慮本地社會價值觀、倫理標準及其他本地因素的模型。以DeepSeek為例，它雖被譽為突破，但也是從許多其他人工智慧模型中提煉而來。因此，我想問新加坡是否有可能開發或提煉自己的人工智慧模型，使本地企業能依託此模型，帶著更強的信心持續成長和發展。

最後，全球合作至關重要。在數字經濟日益互聯的世界中，新加坡作為金融和貿易樞紐的角色比以往任何時候都重要。我們已與澳大利亞、英國和紐西蘭簽署數字經濟協議（DEA），並積極推進東盟數字經濟框架協議。這些舉措將促進資料共享、統一理解和標準、推動技術合作，並可能幫助打擊網路傷害，確保我們保持全球數字經濟的前沿地位。

因此，部長能否更新政府如何與全球政府和組織合作，建設能力、促進資料共享和交易，以及打擊網路傷害？

SPH媒體信託——關鍵績效指標（KPI）

普里坦·辛格議員（亞歷山大選區）：先生，數字發展與信息部（MDDI）在去年的預算中披露，2024/2025財年為SPH媒體信託預留了2.6億新元。我們還被告知，部委為SPH媒體信託設立了關鍵績效指標（KPI）。部長表示，儘管SPH媒體信託保持了整體覆蓋率，並實現了數字訂閱的適度增長，但未達到數字覆蓋率、青年覆蓋率、方言覆蓋率及網站和應用平均停留時間的所有KPI。因此，未獲得全部承諾資金。

對於2024/2025財年，部委為這些未達標的KPI設定了哪些客觀標準？具體來說，這些KPI是降低了還是提高了？SPH媒體信託自去年以來表現是否有所改善？部長能否分享過去兩年其英文及方言報刊的印刷和數字訂閱資料？

我也曾詢問部長，部委在預算書中呈現對SPH媒體信託的補貼方式，是否有更簡便的方式讓公眾追蹤和理解部委為SPH媒體信託設定的KPI。鑑於對主流媒體的補貼規模，這一點尤為重要。畢竟，正如部長所同意的，事實勝於雄辯。

我想分享一些關注本地英文新聞的人的軼事反饋，例如，CNA在本地議題的報道和評論深度已超過《海峽時報》。部委是否進行本地調查以評估公眾對本地媒體的反應？如果有，部委如何決定將納稅人的資金投入公眾評價較低的媒體？此類調查多久進行一次？部委還跟蹤哪些其他客觀KPI以確保納稅人的資金用於SPH媒體的用途得當？

主席：蘇翰儀女士，您可以將兩段發言合併。

公共服務媒體實體

蘇翰儀女士（馬西嶺-裕廊西選區）：隨著技術和人工智慧的發展帶來新機遇，也帶來了新挑戰和競爭。以新聞、媒體和娛樂領域為例，全球消費者越來越傾向於線上流媒體服務和非傳統來源，如社交媒體。

2024年7月，英國廣播公司（BBC）宣佈計劃在明年3月前裁員500人，以節省2億英鎊，成為“更精簡、更靈活的組織”，以應對資金和通脹壓力。這是在其員工人數已減少10%，約2000個崗位之後。其長期旗艦時事訪談節目《HARDtalk》也因此被取消。

今年1月，CNN宣佈計劃裁員6%，以調整節目安排和數字戰略。這是在去年夏天已裁減100個崗位，約佔員工總數3%，以重組新聞採集部門之後。

本地方面，SPH媒體去年11月宣佈裁員34人，佔其技術部門的10%，以應對重組和數字轉型。

12點45分

作為新加坡廣播員工工會顧問，我與廣播行業工會成員交流時瞭解到，他們擔憂隨著新加坡人和全球一樣，從各種數字渠道和平臺消費媒體，傳統模擬媒體平臺的內容消費迅速下降，職位重組不可避免。

在這一不斷變化的背景下，數字發展與信息部如何支援我們的公共服務媒體實體，確保它們在持續的技術顛覆和資訊來源激增中保持相關性並維持或提升觀眾覆蓋率？

數字包容人人共享

（普通話）：[請參閱方言發言。] 多年來，政府通過多項舉措幫助弱勢群體融入數字社會，如DigitalAccess@Home、長者數碼行動和長者手機行動。這些專案提供補貼寬頻裝置，提高公眾對數字技術的認識，並提供培訓支援這些群體。

鑑於此，MDDI能否分享這些舉措的當前成果？例如，到目前為止，有多少家庭受益於DigitalAccess@Home？Seniors Go Digital在培訓老年人使用數字工具方面取得了哪些進展？此外，在實施這些專案過程中遇到了哪些挑戰，採取了哪些措施來應對？未來是否有計劃進一步擴大這方面的支援？

我建議部委考慮以下措施，以進一步加強對弱勢群體的支援：加強與企業的合作，推出更全面的方案，降低低收入家庭的數字接入成本。擴大社群工作坊，提供更個性化的數字培訓，例如一對一輔導，以滿足老年人的學習需求，同時繼續提升他們防範網路詐騙的意識和能力。

加強對殘疾人士輔助技術和培訓的支援，可能通過與企業和專業組織合作，提供定製化解決方案。數字包容對於社會公平和進步至關重要。我期待部委的回應，並相信這些努力將繼續惠及更多新加坡人。

數字空間中的公民支援

許家豪先生（提名議員）：主席先生，數字化正在改變我們的生活、工作和互動方式。從電子支付到遠端醫療和數字政府服務，技術已成為我們日常生活的基石。隨著新加坡的發展，我們必須確保每位新加坡人，無論年齡、能力或背景如何，都能自信地在網路空間中導航，不懼被排斥或被利用。我們的數字未來必須建立在包容、賦權和安全的基礎上。雖然許多人已適應，但仍有一些人數字能力薄弱，缺乏數字自信，包括在電子服務方面掙扎的老年人以及身體和精神殘疾人士。

IMDA宣佈了國家數字生活運動下與300多家合作伙伴的戰略合作，旨在提升新加坡人的基本數字技能。這些努力值得稱讚，對縮小數字鴻溝起到了關鍵作用。但仍需做更多工作以覆蓋服務不足的社群。社會及家庭發展部的一份報告強調了設計和技術解決方案在促進殘疾人士獨立生活方面的必要性。

我想問部委，現有的數字舉措如何確保大眾普及，確保無人被落下？我們如何擴大努力，進一步彌合數字鴻溝？有哪些策略賦能公民掌握安全有效使用技術的技能和信心？我們如何確保所有數字平臺的無障礙性，特別是針對殘疾人士？我們如何加強公眾對網路威脅的認識，確保新加坡人能夠識別並保護自己免受數字風險？

一個包容、安全且數字賦能的社會不僅是目標，更是必需。我們必須確保每位新加坡人都能安全、自信地訪問、使用並受益於技術。

主席：賈米爾·賈姆先生，請將您的兩段發言合併。

數字包容

賈米爾·賈姆彥松先生（亞歷山大）：先生，數字化服務提升了個人和組織的效率與便利性。然而，一些新加坡人因身體限制、缺乏數字素養或適應困難而難以跟上步伐。這些人面臨被邊緣化的風險，尤其是隨著更多政府和商業服務轉向線上。

提供紙質申請並非解決數字邊緣化的萬能方案。所有機構應設立配備熟悉本機構流程的工作人員的自助電腦站。這些工作人員應引導使用者完成數字申請，幫助他們逐步獨立使用系統。

ServiceSG中心在引導市民使用政府電子服務方面發揮重要作用，但其工作人員不可能熟悉每個機構的詳細流程。雖然他們協助處理常見數字功能，但無法應對複雜申請，如長期探訪準證或公設辯護人申請。政府機構必須承擔起引導使用者使用自身系統的責任。ServiceSG網路也應擴大，包括設立在實龍崗。

Seniors Go Digital專案旨在幫助老年人使用數字服務。該專案迄今效果如何？培訓了多少老年人，他們的數字素養提升了多少？是否有計劃擴大專案覆蓋更多市民？

除了基礎培訓，數字包容工作還應確保老年人及其他數字邊緣群體能更自信地使用關鍵平臺，包括連線家庭、企業和政府機構的通訊應用。

先生，數字化必須促進更大包容，而非製造新障礙，使所有新加坡人無論年齡、能力或經濟狀況，都能充分享受數字化帶來的益處。

民意調查

先生，去年我在自家樓下參與了一項涵蓋多種政治和社會話題的調查。調查問及我對生活、經濟和社群的滿意度，也讓我評價政府是否以新加坡利益為重，是否重視我的意見，是否有足夠渠道表達觀點。還評價了武裝部隊、公共服務、主流媒體和網路媒體的質量，以及我對警方和法院的信心。調查涉及住房、醫療、公共交通和教育的負擔能力，工作中是否面臨外國人競爭，移民速度和移民質量。最後，問我認同新加坡人的程度及是否願為更好生活移民他國。

當我詢問調查由誰委託時，調查員無法告知。最近我又見到另一調查員在我社群進行類似調查，過去也曾通過電話收到類似調查。這些調查是否由政府委託？如果是，哪個部委負責？這些調查僅用於制定公共政策，還是也用於選舉目的的民意測量？

如果使用了公共資金，結果應公開，否則可能被視為服務於黨派利益，而非惠及新加坡和全體新加坡人。

網路危害防護

蔡偉業先生（丹戎巴葛）：先生，2022年我曾談及暴露於色情內容、遊戲成癮及其他網路危害的風險。我強調需要提高意識、採取適當干預，並由政府、家庭和社會共同努力，營造更安全、更積極的網路環境。

去年我指出數字技術普及使青少年暴露於有害內容，主流和社交媒體傳播的不切實際的身體標準已成為社會心理健康的壓力源。

網路世界已成為我們生活不可或缺的一部分，提供社交、知識共享和內容創作機會。但必須讓網路環境更安全，尤其是對年輕易受影響者。有些人建議通過禁止訪問來解決網路危害，但僅靠禁止顯然不可行。

例如，社交媒體禁令可能帶來意想不到的危險。前提是年輕人擅長使用網際網路。禁令可能促使他們在父母不知情的情況下訪問社交媒體，或尋找無監管的隱秘網路區域。

因此，我重申呼籲MDDI深入研究如何塑造一個兼顧安全與成長機會的網路環境。畢竟，我們的數字空間應是年輕人交流、分享知識和創作內容的建設性平臺，更安全、更有利於所有人。

網路安全

謝耀權先生（裕廊）：主席，網路安全是一個持續進展的工作，或許永遠如此。首份網路安全評估報告證明了這一點。IMDA的神秘購物測試顯示，Instagram首次對違反其社群準則的合法使用者舉報僅採取了2%的行動。Facebook平均需九天處理合法舉報，X平臺平均十天，遠遠超過X在其年度報告中宣稱的中位處理時間15.06小時——非常精確。

綜合來看，大多數指定社交媒體服務僅對約一半的合法舉報採取行動，平均需五天處理。別誤會，我認為MDDI在提升新加坡使用者網路安全方面做了大量工作，我們的網路安全法律具有里程碑意義，但仍需做更多。

我有幾個問題：一，部委如何與指定社交媒體服務合作，確保它們更有效地處理使用者舉報，更快刪除有害內容？二，部委是否考慮加強對社交媒體服務的懲罰措施？IMDA迄今對平臺因未履行法律義務已罰款多少？三，是否計劃將Telegram最終指定為社交媒體服務，因為實際上它是社交媒體服務，而非僅是通訊應用？

主席：亞歷克斯·嚴先生，請將您的三段發言合併。

面向未來的公共圖書館

亞歷克斯·嚴先生（馬西嶺-裕廊西）：主席先生，我小時候非常喜歡圖書館。訪問福康寧國家圖書館或區域圖書館總是令人期待。因此，我提請部委向議會介紹我們的公共圖書館將如何發展，以支援面向未來的新加坡。圖書館長期以來是社群豐富文化的基石，但數字時代需要更創新的學習方式。

我們可以期待圖書館推出哪些新舉措，鼓勵所有新加坡人更廣泛地採用技術和掌握技能？此外，這些舉措將如何針對不同年齡群體，尤其是老年人進行規模化推廣，使每個人無論數字流利度如何都能受益？

圖書館不應僅是書籍的存放地，而應成為新知識和數字實踐體驗的活躍試驗場。我期待聽到部委如何計劃將這些變革性機會帶入社群核心。

網路空間的文明討論

在我們互聯互通的世界中，社交媒體和數字平臺是社群建設的強大工具，但也可能成為有害言論、錯誤資訊和極化敘事的溫床，威脅社會結構。

我們長期以社會凝聚力自豪，不能讓網路仇恨破壞我們的團結。尤其是青年易受數字空間負面影響。部長能否分享部委在網路上促進公民意識的戰略努力，無論是通過數字素養專案、與社群團體合作的舉措，還是鼓勵負責任網路行為的針對性政策？

無障礙數字服務

主席先生，部委將如何確保我們的數字服務真正做到不落下任何人，尤其是老年人和殘疾人士？在推進智慧舉措和數字轉型的同時，如何確保這些進步對社會弱勢群體公平且可及？我們知道技術有時令人望而生畏，若實施不當甚至排斥部分人群。因此，部委是否會推出新標準或指南，確保我們的網站、應用及其他數字資源對不同需求的使用者友好？

最後，部委將如何衡量成效、跟蹤進展並提供透明更新，以確保社群各個群體都能從我們的數字未來中受益？

我也藉此機會肯定MDDI及相關機構工作人員在推動包容和知情社會數字轉型方面的工作。我曾與他們在多個專案中合作，見證了他們的熱情和奉獻，致力於讓生活更緊密連線、更高效數字化，同時極具人文關懷。感謝大家的努力。

下午1點

身份證——跨部門協調的領導

王華漢先生（提名議員）：先生，MDDI應牽頭協調政府各部門保護個人資訊的工作。1月部長宣告中，張玉娟部長澄清，詐騙者並不直接利用身份證號碼盜竊或解鎖貴重物品。

但身份證號碼仍是獲取新加坡個人資訊（雖非機密資訊）的門戶。例如，中央公積金局網站上的匹配退休儲蓄計劃資格查詢器，任何人都可查詢某位長者退休賬戶餘額是否低於基本退休金額，月收入是否低於4000元，及其住所的年值是否低於21000元。

所有這些資訊僅憑長者的身份證號碼和出生日期即可查詢。雖然這些資訊的濫用方式不易察覺，但詐騙者可利用這些資訊建立可信度，通過社會工程手段操控易受騙者。

我理解公積金局旨在方便資格查詢，但隨著詐騙手法日益複雜，我們是否應更審慎地重新權衡安全與便利的平衡？

我們必須未雨綢繆，領先應對新興威脅。憑藉在資料保護方面的深厚專業知識，MDDI最適合幫助政府部門培養主動資料安全的意識。

主席：陳潔儀女士，請將您的三段發言合併。

新加坡的數字韌性

陳潔儀女士（東海岸）：謝謝主席。隨著數字技術和服務的日益普及及新加坡智慧國的願景，確保數字韌性對於建立和維護公民及企業的信任至關重要。我們的網路安全生態系統、下一代全國寬頻網路（NextGen NBN）及基礎設施建設、教育和勞動力發展、數字治理和創新在新加坡數字韌性戰略中發揮關鍵作用。

隨著數字技術普及，網路攻擊風險和威脅複雜度不斷增加。網路安全、人工智慧及新興技術領域的人才需求持續增長，公共部門和企業均面臨人才短缺。為確保穩健的數字基礎設施，新加坡需投資基礎設施升級和準備。技術快速發展要求監管和政策框架具備靈活性和適應性，既支援創新，又提供必要保障。

那麼，新加坡如何準備領先應對新興數字威脅，並擁有適應性數字戰略？MDDI能否分享提升新加坡數字韌性的戰略重點？

人工智慧帶來的增長機遇

主席先生，人工智慧和創新為各行業企業帶來巨大增長機遇。通過採用人工智慧解決方案，企業可開闢新收入來源，提升客戶體驗，最佳化運營並降低風險。

正如貿易及工業部昨日分享的COS，人工智慧在各行業的採用正在增加。企業在推動採用人工智慧解決方案的過程中，既面臨機遇，也面臨挑戰。

企業採用人工智慧解決方案的重大挑戰之一是人工智慧專業人才的短缺和競爭。企業還需基礎設施和資源，包括計算能力、資料儲存和雲服務。高質量資料的獲取對成功採用人工智慧至關重要，因為資料是訓練人工智慧模型的基礎。

隨著人工智慧採用增長，企業必須確保負責任和倫理地使用人工智慧，包括如何處理資料隱私、偏見和透明度。這對於建立和維護信任至關重要。

2025年預算中宣佈的1.5億新元企業計算計劃旨在解決企業在採用人工智慧解決方案時面臨的這些挑戰。企業如何利用企業計算計劃？資格標準是什麼？

數字與人工智慧專業知識和能力

新加坡打造智慧國的願景以及我們對數字化轉型以實現可持續增長的承諾，要求我們擁有強大且具備數字專業知識和能力的人才庫。新加坡數字戰略的一個關鍵支柱是加速人工智慧（AI）的開發和部署。最新版本的國家人工智慧戰略（NAIS 2.0）於2023年釋出。人才是實現這一目標的重要推動力。推動人工智慧能力發展的關鍵因素是培養強大的人才庫。

人工智慧專業知識和能力的格局動態且迅速演變，全球各國都在人工智慧研究、開發和人才引進方面進行大量投資。那麼，政府如何確保公共部門及更廣泛的新加坡生態系統內擁有強大的人才儲備和技術專長，並留住這些人才？

考慮到新加坡資源有限，我們如何構建這些能力？在幫助我們實現人工智慧創新跨越式發展的過程中，關鍵考慮因素有哪些？在全球人工智慧人才競爭激烈的環境下，新加坡在發展和吸引頂尖人工智慧專業人才和能力方面進展如何？

主席：下一位議員未到。Rachel Ong女士。

提升人工智慧勞動力準備度

Rachel Ong女士（西海岸選區）：主席，人工智慧正在迅速改變各行各業，重塑工作崗位並重新定義必備技能。星展集團最近宣佈未來三年將裁員4,000人，凸顯了人工智慧日益增長的影響。這種轉變不僅限於大型企業，中小企業也必須適應以保持競爭力。人工智慧能力應成為普遍的勞動力資產，而非僅限少數人的專業技能。

教育機構正在積極響應，例如義安理工學院開設了生成式人工智慧課程，幫助專業人士掌握實用的人工智慧技能。

然而，中小企業對這類培訓的採納情況仍不確定。隨著人工智慧重塑就業格局，政府如何確保企業和員工，尤其是中小企業及弱勢崗位的員工做好準備？有哪些舉措幫助勞動力發展人工智慧技能以提升生產力？這些行業的員工在轉型過程中將獲得怎樣的支援？

主席：Mariam Jaafar女士，您可以將您的兩段發言合併。

政府人工智慧應用案例

Mariam Jaafar女士（森巴旺選區）：主席，人工智慧和生成式人工智慧正在改變全球政府機構在所有核心政府部門和職能中的運作方式——以簡化政府服務、提升治理水平和改善公民體驗。

例如，在醫療領域用於預測和管理疾病爆發及日益增長的醫療狀況，在基礎設施領域進行智慧交通規劃，在社會服務領域加快檔案處理或檢測欺詐行為，以及在客戶服務和公民參與方面。政府作為領先使用者，還能為新興人工智慧基礎設施提供基礎負載，並開發和壓力測試符合我們價值觀的新興負責任人工智慧框架。

在新加坡，政府已經在交通管理等應用場景中使用人工智慧。政府創造了哪些價值？政府採取了哪些措施加速人工智慧和生成式人工智慧的採用，並通過人工智慧實現價值創造？

企業採用人工智慧

主席，人工智慧不再是遙遠的未來技術，它已經到來，正在改變行業和重塑工作崗位。許多企業已經使用人工智慧提升生產力，尤其是個人生產力，部署瞭如微軟Co-Pilot等工具——但這些以生產力為驅動的人工智慧應用通常僅帶來10%至20%的生產力提升。

為了實現真正的企業價值創造，企業必須超越此階段，利用人工智慧重塑其關鍵核心業務流程，例如基於人工智慧的故障檢測，或發明新產品和服務，例如通過按需付費的方式向客戶收取人工智慧積分以使用新功能。只有這樣，我們才能通過更高的收入增長、顯著提升運營效率和增強客戶體驗，實現真正的價值創造。

在這方面，新加坡企業採用人工智慧的情況仍然非常不均衡，尤其是在中小企業中。根據我對該主題的研究，主要挑戰包括設定正確的人工智慧目標和對齊、從人工智慧概念驗證擴充套件到大規模價值創造，以及尋找合適的人才。較小的公司還發現雲端計算和人工智慧基礎設施的訪問成本較高。

主席，我們需要普及基礎設施、生態系統和人才的獲取，並提升企業的人工智慧目標。政府如何支援本地企業加速採用人工智慧，實現更大規模的價值創造，從而使新加坡繼續利用人工智慧實現經濟收益和社會效益？

主席：下一位議員未到。Sharael Taha先生，您可以將五段發言合併。

構建人工智慧和技術人才儲備

Sharael Taha先生（巴西立-榜鵝選區）：主席，我的第一段發言。雖然新加坡正在構建人工智慧、網路安全及其他新興技術的深厚能力，但這些技能不僅對技術專業人員至關重要，普通勞動力也越來越需要具備基本的終端使用者知識。我們努力培養具備深厚專業知識的勞動力，同時同樣重要的是提升更廣泛勞動力的基礎數字和人工智慧技能。

人工智慧不應僅是少數人的小眾技能，而應像今天職場中使用微軟Word或Excel一樣普及。關於培養專家能力，技術技能加速器（TeSA）在裝備本地勞動力以滿足人工智慧和網路安全崗位的深度技術技能方面效果如何？我們是否有望達到人工智慧從業者的目標？

在技術行業之外，人工智慧有潛力提升生產力，加快並改善決策，尤其對中小企業同樣重要。然而，中小企業的採用情況仍不均衡。我們如何加速提升更廣泛勞動力的人工智慧素養和數字技能，確保零售、物流、專業服務或其他行業的員工都能利用人工智慧提升生產力、擴大業務規模並保持全球競爭力？

賦能中小企業採用人工智慧解決方案

許多中小企業缺乏預算組建內部數字團隊或聘請人工智慧人才來識別和實施業務中的人工智慧機會。政府如何支援中小企業利用人工智慧提升生產力、增強決策能力並通過採用人工智慧解決方案實現有效擴充套件？

成為人工智慧發展領導者

新加坡立志成為全球人工智慧採用、創新和數字技術解決方案的領導者。在2024年預算案中宣佈將與產業合作推動人工智慧的採用和創新。請問部委能否提供這些合作的最新進展？我們如何進一步鼓勵企業在新加坡發展或建立人工智慧能力？

除了計劃和補助，構建合適的生態系統對於吸引和維持人工智慧驅動的發展至關重要。這不僅需要技術人才和尖端基礎設施，如超高速寬頻網路，還需有效匹配技術與業務需求，並配備必要的防範措施以防止濫用。我們在NAIS 2.0戰略中取得了哪些進展，以實現新加坡將人工智慧作為一種善用力量，賦能企業並提升人民生活的願景？

同時，支援人工智慧創新的基礎設施和專業知識也可能被用於犯罪活動。有哪些防範措施防止惡意行為者濫用，確保我們人工智慧生態系統的完整性？

提升網路安全水平

網路安全威脅持續上升，儘管我們已修訂《網路安全法》以加強對關鍵資訊基礎設施的保護，並擴大新加坡網路安全域性（CSA）的監管範圍涵蓋新類別，我們如何持續提升國家網路安全水平？

許多中小企業缺乏預算組建內部網路安全團隊或聘請具備深厚網路安全專業知識的人才。我們如何協助中小企業提升網路安全水平？

支援方言媒體

對我們方言媒體的支援使這些平臺得以轉型，提供許多創新的數字產品以吸引社群。

特別是《Berita Harian》能夠為馬來語使用者提供豐富的媒體內容，不僅在新加坡，也覆蓋整個地區。這很重要，因為它提供了新加坡馬來族群對區域時事的視角。請問這如何提升了《Berita Harian》的觀眾數量？我們如何進一步協助方言報紙觸及更廣泛的區域馬來語聽眾？

主席：Josephine Teo部長。

下午1時15分

數字發展與信息部長（Josephine Teo女士）：主席，感謝各位議員的發言。

去年，李顯龍總理啟動了智慧國2.0——重新整理了新加坡利用科技提升人民生活的願景。今天，我將詳細介紹我們在四個方面的努力：（一）如何支援勞動力在人工智慧時代取得成功；（二）如何通過打擊有害的網路活動保障新加坡人的安全；（三）如何保護我們的網路空間免受惡意攻擊；（四）如何通過加強公共服務媒體維護我們資訊空間的信任。

主席，請允許書記員分發資料包。

主席：好的，請分發。[資料包已分發給尊敬的議員。]

Josephine Teo女士：謝謝。議員們也可以通過MP@SGPARL應用程式訪問這些材料。

主席，關於今年的預算案和財政部長辯論，議員們多次提及人工智慧。Jessica Tan女士、Rachel Ong女士和Sharael Taha先生也表達了對人工智慧對工人影響的關切。

我理解這些關切。這些問題是真實存在的，並將在一段時間內持續，因為我們目前僅處於全球人工智慧採用的早期階段。全球各地的人們都想知道誰將受到影響以及如何受到影響。雖然沒有完全明確的答案，但我們可以採取一些措施幫助應對。

首先要認識到，許多工作崗位仍將存在。風險不在於這些工作崗位被人工智慧取代，而是被更具競爭力的國家或城市搶走。因此，我們最重要的任務是幫助儘可能多的人和企業利用人工智慧提升生產力。我們希望成為一個具備能力和信心使用人工智慧的國家。通過這樣做，我們可以保持新加坡的經濟競爭力，並留住更多優質工作崗位。

主席，我整理了一份由多個機構比較的新加坡情況清單，見資料包。議員們會看到，新加坡在人工智慧廣泛採用方面享有良好聲譽和有利地位。我們應抓住這一機遇。我們已與亞馬遜網路服務（AWS）、Databricks、谷歌和甲骨文等科技公司建立了穩固的合作伙伴關係。例如，微軟與全國職工總會學習中心合作，培訓多達10萬名工人掌握人工智慧技能。

同時，信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）正與新加坡技能未來（SkillsFuture Singapore）合作，擴充套件“數字職場2.0”課程，納入人工智慧和生成式人工智慧內容。通過這一擴充套件，製造業或零售業等各行業的員工都能學習如何使用ChatGPT和CoPilot等工具，即使他們沒有技術背景，也能提升工作生產力。

其次，我們必須認識到，人工智慧在替代部分現有崗位的同時，也會創造新崗位。正如議員們所強調的，我們的下一項重要任務是深化人工智慧能力，在新加坡培育更多新崗位。這意味著擴大人工智慧從業者隊伍，包括資料科學家、機器學習工程師等。

以人工智慧安全為例。隨著人工智慧採用的增長，對人工智慧測試和保障服務提供商的需求也將增加，就像資訊科技（IT）廣泛採用帶動了IT審計師需求一樣。對這類測試、檢驗和認證服務市場的估計各異，但未來規模將達到數十億。

新加坡重視良好的人工智慧治理。我們是全球最早推出測試框架和軟體工具包AI Verify的國家之一。就在上個月，我啟動了AI Verify基金會的全球人工智慧保障試點，推廣生成式人工智慧模型測試的最佳實踐。這些努力有助於發展本地人工智慧測試產業，創造新崗位。

針對Sharael Taha先生和Tin Pei Ling女士的提問，我來更新一下擴大人工智慧從業者隊伍的進展。

我之前分享過，我們的目標是在大約五年內將從業者人數從不足5,000人擴大到15,000人。過去一年多，我們估計從業者隊伍增長了近25%。

信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）與貿易與工業部（MTI）密切合作設立的人工智慧卓越中心，將催生數百甚至數千個人工智慧崗位需求。公共部門本身需求也在增長。例如，內務部科學技術局（HTX）計劃到2025年底招聘並培訓300人的人工智慧團隊。

為滿足需求，我們需要培養強大的人才儲備。為此，我們將擴大IMDA的技術技能加速器（TeSA）計劃，提供更多由企業主導的培訓機會。我們還將探索與人工智慧新加坡合作，擴大人工智慧學徒計劃。

讓我分享一個這些專案如何惠及新加坡人的例子。

Seow Yuxin曾學習商業，職業生涯開始於一家電商平臺的區域運營崗位。她當時並未直接從事人工智慧系統工作，但該崗位激發了她對該領域的興趣。在看到丈夫和姐夫參加人工智慧學徒計劃後，她勇敢報名參加。

我最近與Yuxin交談，欣喜地得知她已轉型到一家新公司，負責為其他組織提供人工智慧和資料驅動的解決方案。

我們決心讓人工智慧機會開放且包容。Yuxin的例子表明，即使沒有理工科背景，也能獲得人工智慧機會。我們將支援更多像她一樣的新加坡人實現人工智慧夢想。

作為政府，我們始終將人民置於所有工作的核心，這也包括我們的人工智慧計劃。我希望這些努力能讓議員們放心，我們支援新加坡人充分利用人工智慧。

除了在人工智慧領域取得成功，我們還希望新加坡人在上網時感到安全。但這不是政府單方面能實現的。社交媒體平臺必須承擔責任，就像所有服務提供商都對使用者負有一定責任一樣。這就是為什麼我們在2022年通過了《網路安全（雜項修正）法》，明確了它們的基本義務。

正如Eric Chua先生所說，我們相信採取全面且平衡的網路安全策略，尤其是針對年輕使用者。在必要時，我們將加強監管手段。例如，今年1月，我們釋出了針對應用分發服務的新《網路安全行為準則》。這是首次引入措施，確保18歲以下年輕使用者無法訪問不適齡應用。

上個月，我們還發布了首份《網路安全評估報告》。針對Xie Yao Quan先生提出的問題，報告顯示指定社交媒體服務已採取良好措施，建立了基本使用者安全保障。但正如他指出的，仍有改進空間。平臺應更快響應使用者舉報，保護兒童免受有害內容的措施也遠未令人滿意。

因此，信息通信媒體發展局正在研究是否應將應用商店的年齡認證義務也適用於社交媒體服務。

我們還希望加大對網路傷害受害者的支援。IMDA報告發現，平臺往往未能採取行動刪除受害者舉報的真正有害內容。

有一位受害者名叫Jane（化名）。她18歲時，驚恐地發現一張她的臉被合成到他人裸體身體上的照片，在一個圖片分享平臺上流傳。陌生人轉發該圖片並發表評論，其中一些帶有性暗示或侮辱。當她向平臺舉報時，平臺僅刪除了原始帖子，但未刪除轉發內容。在這段經歷中，她感到害怕和尷尬，甚至責怪自己當初上傳照片。十年後，現年29歲的Jane仍在質疑是誰製作了那張照片，以及它是否仍在網上流傳。像Jane這樣的受害者需要更多支援以獲得心理慰藉。

在智慧國2.0啟動時，總理宣佈政府將推出新立法，支援受害者尋求針對特定網路傷害的救濟。Tin女士會高興得知，擬議中的《網路安全（救濟與問責）法案》將於今年晚些時候提交議會。該法案將設立一個名為網路安全委員會（OSC）的新機構，幫助受害者及時獲得幫助。

網路安全委員會計劃於2026年上半年成立。受害者可請求OSC發出指令，要求平臺刪除冒犯性內容。平臺還必須刪除平臺上現有的相同內容——這是當初平臺拒絕為Jane做的。

新法還將幫助受害者追究施害者責任。如果受害者想起訴施害者，可以請求OSC指令平臺提供施害者資訊。

在起草新法律時，法律部長和數字發展部（MDDI）已與來自產業界、學術界、社群團體及國際合作夥伴的廣泛利益相關者進行了接觸。我們也邀請公眾提供反饋。公眾諮詢的結果已釋出在“全民積極公民@家”（REACH）網站上。

我們對公眾的強烈支援和有益反饋感到鼓舞，這將有助於完善我們的提案。鑑於數字空間的複雜性和廣闊性，僅靠規則和法規是不夠的。每個人都有責任發揮作用。國務部長拉哈尤將分享公民如何保護自己在網路上的安全。

先生，首相在預算陳述中提到全球環境更加不確定，且下行風險增加。這一點在數字領域也有所體現，網路威脅日益嚴重。犯罪團伙越來越多地線上尋求非法利益。與某些國家相關的高階持續性威脅（APT）行為者積極推動其國家議程。

我們在網路空間中見證了這兩類活動。去年，發現了一個全球殭屍網路，包含全球範圍內被感染的伺服器和裝置。更多細節可見資料。直到新加坡網路安全域性（CSA）參與了一項國際行動以破壞該殭屍網路，約有2700臺新加坡裝置被感染，裝置所有者對此毫不知情。惡意行為者利用不良的網路衛生習慣感染裝置，包括嬰兒監視器和網際網路路由器。

議員們可能會問，如果該殭屍網路持續存在會怎樣？這意味著裝置易受攻擊，裝置所有者的個人資料可能被竊取。更令人擔憂的是，這些裝置可能被用作待命軍隊，就像我們的全職國民服役人員一樣，隨時準備投入戰鬥。只不過在這種情況下，是外國國家相關行為者利用這些殭屍裝置進行惡意活動，目標可能指向新加坡境內。

下午1時30分

正如陳佩玲女士強調的，國際合作在應對如此複雜的威脅中至關重要。CSA之所以能夠行動，是因為其具備公認的能力，並且其合作伙伴信任其參與這項國際行動。

殭屍網路只是我們需要防禦的眾多網路威脅之一。這就是為什麼我們強調需要在多個層面保障我們的網路安全。

對於個人，我們將繼續與產業夥伴合作，提供更好的保護。一個例子是谷歌Play Protect下的增強欺詐保護功能。常見的詐騙手法是誘使受害者從非官方渠道下載應用程式，這些應用可能向我們的設備註入惡意軟體。通過該功能，Android裝置上的此類下載嘗試將被阻止。

對於組織，政府正在改進新加坡網路安全計劃。高階國務部長陳杰豪稍後將分享更多細節。

我們也同意沙拉爾·塔哈先生關於提升國家網路安全態勢的必要性。去年，CSA修訂了《網路安全法》，要求關鍵基礎設施（CII）所有者報告更多類別的網路事件。我們還將CSA的監管範圍從關鍵基礎設施擴充套件到其他重要系統和實體，如雲服務和資料中心。修訂預計將於今年晚些時候生效。更多資訊見資料。

除了網路安全，我們還計劃推出新的《數字基礎設施法》，以增強數字基礎設施的安全性和韌性。高階國務部長賈尼爾·普圖切裡稍後將分享更多內容。

我擔心的是那些未被此類立法覆蓋、未足夠重視網路安全的組織。值得慶幸的是，已有超過500個組織認識到網路安全的重要性，並通過獲得網路基礎認證和網路信任標誌採取了行動。但我們應在全國範圍內提升網路安全基線標準，保護更多組織，尤其是高風險組織。

因此，CSA正在評估是否需要更多措施，特別是針對可能獲得政府敏感資料或系統訪問許可權的供應商。這些供應商包括網路安全滲透測試公司和網路安全審計機構。可能的措施包括要求這些供應商及其分包商在獲得政府許可或參與政府合同投標前，必須取得網路基礎認證或網路信任標誌。

政府也可能帶頭將網路安全納入採購決策。鑑於這些措施的影響可能不小，CSA計劃在決定前與產業界進行溝通。

先生，現在讓我轉向最後一個主題。我們與議員們一樣擔憂，人工智慧驅動的工具，如深度偽造，可能被濫用造成傷害。這就是為什麼我們通過了《選舉（網路廣告誠信）（修訂）法》，以保護新加坡人在選舉期間免受AI生成虛假資訊的威脅。

我們還在制定新的行為準則，要求社交媒體公司防止和應對虛假內容的濫用。這些措施雖然重要，但仍不足以應對網路上虛假資訊的泛濫。面對虛假資訊的浪潮，我們必須擁有可信賴的資訊來源。

值得慶幸的是，我們的公共服務媒體（PSM）實體仍是許多新加坡人獲取可信新聞的首選。《海峽時報》和CNA是我們訪問量最高的線上新聞平臺之一，每週有超過40%的新加坡人閱讀。更重要的是，公眾對主流媒體的信任度依然很高，CNA和《海峽時報》分別獲得74%和73%的信任率。相比之下，其他國家的主流新聞信任度下降，徘徊在60%或以下。

許多新加坡人，包括蘇翰妮女士和沙拉爾·塔哈先生，讚賞Mediacorp和SPH Media適應觀眾偏好的努力。在激烈的競爭、新聞疲勞和社交媒體平臺不透明演算法的環境下，兩家公司致力於擴大受眾覆蓋。

然而，收入下降迫使它們的新聞編輯部進行調整。SPH Media停止出版中文娛樂雜誌《U-Weekly》。去年十月，Mediacorp將TODAY Online與CNA數字新聞編輯部合併。

普里坦·辛格先生表達了對SPH Media表現的擔憂。與全球新聞機構一樣，隨著讀者轉向線上新聞，SPH Media的紙質訂閱量下降。然而，包括新加坡在內的發達國家中，支付數字新聞訂閱的消費者不到20%。本質上，他們可以免費獲取，並將繼續免費享受此類服務。

在不透露商業敏感資訊的前提下，我可以分享，SPH Media的數字訂閱保持穩定，現已比紙質訂閱高出35%。兩年前這一差距僅為20%。由此可見轉變。SPH Media必須繼續向數字新聞轉型，政府必須支援這一努力，使我們的公共服務媒體實體能夠在觀眾所在的平臺上與他們接觸。

儘管去年未能達到所有關鍵績效指標（KPI），SPH Media並未要求降低目標。他們決心保持與新加坡人的覆蓋率和相關性。2024年，他們保持了強勁的整體覆蓋率，達到新加坡常住人口的70%，儘管青年和方言受眾有所下降。根據資助協議，數字發展部將按比例發放績效掛鉤獎勵。

我想稍微回應普里坦·辛格先生關於比較CNA和《海峽時報》的評論。我尊重地建議議員們，比較時應避免過度簡化。因為我們必須記住，CNA主要是我們的國家廣播機構及數字新聞頻道，而SPH Media信託（SMT）的大部分資產仍以紙質為主，儘管有數字版本，它們定位為國家級的權威報紙。因此，兩者不同且互補。我謙虛地建議議員們整體看待公共服務媒體的表現。因為實際上，我們需要所有這些媒體來覆蓋儘可能多的新加坡人。這是值得銘記的。

如前所述，CNA和《海峽時報》仍是訪問量最高的新聞頻道。對公共服務媒體可持續性表示關切的議員們會同意，覆蓋率等KPI很重要，但它們並非評估公共服務媒體實體表現和效果的唯一方式。同樣，我們必須關注它們從公眾中獲得的信任度和滿意度。這些將是我們計劃引入的額外KPI。

同時，我也想指出廣播電視面臨的威脅，消費者正轉向YouTube或Netflix等平臺。

即使公共服務媒體實體進入這些平臺，國外經驗表明，數字環境中的位置和演算法對它們不利。英國和澳大利亞等國因此制定了新規則，要求智慧電視預裝公共服務媒體應用，如BBC iPlayer或ABC iview，並在使用者介面上顯著展示這些應用。

鑑於公共服務媒體在告知、教育和連線新加坡人方面的重要作用，我們必須非常關注其可見性不被第三方平臺的決策所掩蓋。我們的公共服務媒體內容必須保持可見且易於觀眾訪問。因此，數字發展部正在研究其他國家的監管舉措，以保障公共服務媒體的突出性和可發現性。我們將在決定下一步措施前，諮詢產業利益相關者，包括裝置製造商。

先生，請允許我用中文作結。

（中文）：[請參閱方言演講。] 主席先生，新加坡是一個高度開放和數字化的國家。新加坡人可以通過各種平臺獲取資訊——無論是小紅書、Facebook、Netflix還是愛奇藝，這些都是許多新加坡人熟悉的平臺。

然而，隨著接收資訊的增多，我們辨別資訊的能力是增強了還是減弱了？社會是更加團結還是日益分裂？這些都是值得深思的問題。事實上，在地緣政治競爭加劇的時代，限制我們傳播自身敘事的能力，不利於維護我們的國家立場和身份認同感。

在這方面，公共服務媒體，如Mediacorp和聯合早報，發揮著關鍵作用。只有它們會從新加坡的視角報道新聞並分析國際事件及其對我們的影響。因此，政府正在探索使公共服務媒體內容在新媒體環境中更易於新加坡人獲取的方法。

當然，社會凝聚力的威脅並非數字時代唯一的擔憂。因此，有人問我，鑑於數字世界的危險，新加坡是否應放緩或暫停數字化程序？確實，雖然新加坡在物理世界非常安全，但數字世界無明確邊界，充滿風險。

然而，新加坡是一個資源有限的小國。在激烈的全球競爭時代，數字化是克服限制、持續繁榮的關鍵。在數字化旅程中，不進則退。政府必須採取明智策略，幫助公民和企業提升數字技能，加強網路安全意識。

只有這樣，新加坡才能抓住數字時代的新機遇，我們的工人才能前進，獲得更好的就業機會。

主席：高階國務部長賈尼爾·普圖切裡。

賈尼爾·普圖切裡博士：主席先生，感謝各位議員的發言和提問，我希望今天的回應能涵蓋陳潔儀女士、陳佩玲女士、王華漢先生、沙拉爾·塔哈先生、陳丹尼斯先生和瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士提出的意見。

先生，信任是我們智慧國度（Smart Nation）努力的核心。我們的公民和企業必須確信，他們依賴的數字系統和服務，以及他們參與的互動和交易，是值得信賴的。

我將說明數字發展部建立這種信任的方法：通過確保關鍵數字基礎設施的韌性、安全和未來適應性，以及推動政府採用人工智慧和創新以造福公眾。

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政府已有法規以降低數字基礎設施和服務面臨的風險，包括網路攻擊和服務中斷。例如，根據《電信法》，信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）要求寬頻和行動網路運營商採取積極措施，減少中斷。數字服務也有行業法規，如新加坡金融管理局（MAS）對金融機構的資訊科技韌性和安全要求。

但數字領域更為廣闊且不斷演變。數字基礎設施，如資料中心和雲服務，已成為支援許多功能的重要支柱，包括電子銀行和支付、網約車、電子商務和數字身份。這些功能使公民能夠滿足日常需求，且便捷高效，幫助企業成長。然而，數字基礎設施規模和複雜性的增長，也意味著網路攻擊面擴大，硬體故障、配置錯誤等問題導致中斷的風險增加。一旦發生中斷，影響更大，因為這些服務的使用率不斷提高。

去年，我們修訂了《網路安全法》，以應對運營環境中的新挑戰。預計今年晚些時候生效的修訂，將賦予CSA更大權力，確保關鍵基礎設施（CII）之外的重要實體和系統的網路安全，包括資料中心和雲服務。這將提升新加坡及其數字經濟的信任和信心。我們也希望CII所有者藉此機會審視其商業模式，鼓勵他們採用新技術，如商業雲解決方案。

除了網路威脅，我們還必須防範中斷數字基礎設施和服務訪問的風險，包括火災等物理危害，以及硬體故障和系統配置錯誤等不易察覺的風險。這些風險源於我們對數字基礎設施和服務的依賴。我們無法完全消除風險，因此必須通過減少中斷髮生率和影響來增強應對能力。

我們正努力於今年推出一部新法案，名為《數字基礎設施法》，以提升新加坡的數字韌性和安全。該法案針對基礎數字基礎設施，首先涵蓋主要雲服務提供商和資料中心。法案將要求主要運營商實施措施，維護其韌性和安全，最大限度減少中斷。

我們正在研究要求主要運營商向政府報告中斷事件的規定，以便更好地從事件中學習和改進，並在需要時支援響應和恢復工作。自2024年中起，我們已向數字基礎設施提供商及其部分客戶徵求意見。

IMDA最近釋出了針對雲服務提供商和資料中心的指導性建議。這些指南包含我們與利益相關者協商的關鍵措施。指南鼓勵資料中心運營商建立健全的業務連續性體系，確保為企業客戶提供高可用性。雲服務提供商也被鼓勵管理資料安全風險，確保業務連續性規劃。許多供應商，包括微軟、Equinix和吉寶，以及它們的企業客戶，都表示支援這些符合國際標準且適用的指導性建議。

我們還加強了政府系統的韌性，確保新加坡人在與政府線上互動時擁有信任和信心。我們提升了各機構使用的中央系統的韌性，過去一年這些系統的服務可用性從95%提升至99.5%。我們將繼續推廣工具，提升政府應用的韌性，包括監控系統正常執行時間的工具。

鑑於韌性措施會產生成本，我們的策略必須精準。我們將支援提供重要服務的機構在適當情況下實施更復雜的措施。

政府需要管理對個人資訊的訪問，因為這些資訊可能被詐騙手法利用。我們致力於確保包括個人資料在內的資料得到謹慎和負責任的管理。

在政府提供涉及資料的數字服務時，各機構必須評估每個使用案例中利益與風險的平衡，實現服務可及性和資料保護的雙重目標，符合數字發展部提供的指導原則和保障措施。

先生，我們的數字基礎設施不僅必須安全且具備韌性，還要為新加坡的未來做好準備。去年，我們宣佈信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）將投資高達1億新元升級全國寬頻網路（NBN）。這將使寬頻速度達到目前大多數家庭的10倍。運營商開始以更低的價格提供更高速的寬頻服務。現在10GB的套餐價格在30至70新元之間，而一年前則超過100新元。

發展面向未來的數字基礎設施還意味著在追求增長的同時解決資源限制問題。我們必須探索支援新加坡人工智慧（AI）雄心的方式，同時堅持我們的氣候承諾，並平衡數字基礎設施增長與環境可持續性。

IMDA去年推出了綠色資料中心路線圖，指導資料中心提高能源效率並使用綠色能源，以可持續地擴大AI計算能力。我們取得了良好進展。例如，建築與建設局（BCA）與IMDA於去年十月更新了資料中心綠色標誌標準，提高了資料中心可持續性的要求。IMDA還於去年十二月推出了資料中心能源效率補助金，支援企業升級為更節能的IT裝置。

IMDA正在進一步探索通過法規提升資料中心可持續性的途徑。我們正在研究其他司法管轄區的做法，並與業界進行早期接觸，以制定適合新加坡背景的框架。

先生，作為數字政府，我們必須以身作則。我們必須繼續建設公共部門的能力，創造和試驗AI，開發以公民為中心的解決方案。

我們已在公共服務內部提供了頂級的AI和大型語言模型（LLM）工具的訪問許可權。Pair Chat是一款快速且安全的生成式AI助手，目前已有超過半數的公共服務人員使用。去年，我們舉辦了全政府的提示工程競賽，吸引了超過1,040名公務員參加。能夠舉辦政府內部的提示工程競賽，並有如此多的公務員參與，這本身就顯示了我們數字政府的獨特之處。

決賽選手被要求在10分鐘內使用大型語言模型工具構建一個活動宣傳網站。比賽冠軍是新加坡民防部隊（SCDF）的消防員穆罕默德·奈姆·賓·扎哈里，他當時剛完成一場24小時的輪班。第二名是人力部（MOM）的財務官員Rachel Tiang。他們都不是從事AI技術工作的人員，但他們和所有參賽者都能在10分鐘內利用這些AI和LLM增強工具構建出功能性宣傳網站。

我們積極讓非技術公務員參與數字產品的創造。去年，新加坡政府科技局（GovTech）舉辦了首屆公務員駭客馬拉松系列活動，名為LAUNCH!計劃，收集了600多個創意，孵化了26個創新原型。例如，兩名小學教師和一名GovTech官員組成的團隊原型開發了一個AI工具，為學生的口語技能表現提供即時定製反饋。

我們還在探索如何讓公務員利用AI更好更快地創新。最近的“為公共利益駭客馬拉松”中，一個名為Spaceship的原型工具旨在降低公務員原型開發的難度。Spaceship允許公務員使用AI代理構建和部署功能齊全的原型應用，包括基於LLM的工具，且只需使用普通英語。這是一個幫助非技術公務員用普通英語在幾分鐘內從想法到可用應用的工具。

先生，我試用了這個原型，嘗試讓它編寫一個限制議員發言時長的入口網站。它在電子表格中設定了相應的過濾器，但我認為這就是目前技術的極限了。

隨著政府中AI使用的增加，理解並減輕AI應用中的風險至關重要。GovTech正在建設能力，確保政府的生成式AI應用安全推向市場。

我們有Litmus，一款用於AI安全和安全性測試的工具。我們策劃了一套測試，確保我們的AI應用能抵禦誤導使用者或造成聲譽損害的風險。Litmus與IMDA的Moonshot合作開發，將於今年推出。通過與各機構的測試，我們看到Litmus能夠提前發現潛在的安全問題，使我們能夠主動採取行動。基本上，這是AI測試即服務。

Litmus提供AI風險診斷，但一旦檢測到風險，我們還需要解決方案。在AI領域，護欄確保AI系統在倫理、法律和功能邊界內執行。我們正在構建Sentinel平臺，為政府的AI應用提供護欄即服務。產品團隊可以從精選的護欄列表中選擇，包括頂級AI開發者的護欄和本地化的LionGuard，並輕鬆整合到應用中。Sentinel已能準確識別試圖滲透系統或誘使AI模型產生不當輸出的行為。

Litmus和Sentinel展示了我們希望開發安全可用的政府生成式AI應用，包括供公眾使用的應用。

先生，我們的數字基礎設施支撐著公民和企業依賴的關鍵功能。因此，我們積極投資提升關鍵數字基礎設施的安全性、韌性和麵向未來的能力。我們也持續建設公共部門能力，擁抱AI的試驗和創新，更好地服務新加坡人。我希望這將建立公眾對我們數字未來的信任，助力我們繼續推進智慧國之旅。

主席：高階國務部長陳杰豪。

數字發展與資訊高階國務部長（陳杰豪先生）：主席，我們希望新加坡人能享有良好的就業、優厚的薪酬和更好的工作環境。為實現這些目標，我們的企業必須在快速數字化中保持競爭力。我們已打下良好基礎。數字經濟從2018年到2023年的複合年增長率為11.2%。我們正通過去年推出的NAIS 2.0和數字企業藍圖（DEB），幫助工人和企業抓住下一波數字化浪潮，特別是在AI領域。

田佩玲女士和沙拉爾·塔哈先生詢問了NAIS 2.0的進展。我們看到令人鼓舞的進展。去年，超過26個人工智慧卓越中心成立，推動AI創新和應用的前沿。

例如，禮來的數字健康創新中心將加速AI驅動的數字健康技術研發，幫助醫生更好地理解患者需求，提供個性化護理。另一個例子是金融服務領域，保誠的全球AI實驗室孵化工具以提升客戶體驗和員工效率。該實驗室還將與高等院校合作，為學生提供實踐學習機會。

總理在預算演講中宣佈的企業計算倡議將幫助在新加坡設立更多卓越中心，支援更多創新AI應用。

我們也看到更多組織利用AI造福公眾。例如，國家公園局正在探索由“為公益而建”駭客馬拉松參與者開發的名為KOEL的AI應用，利用生物聲學幫助進行生物多樣性調查。藉助KOEL，研究人員可以從音訊記錄中識別動物物種，節省數千工時，提高效率和準確性。

另一個例子是iFerret。這是部署在樟宜機場的AI檢測系統，幫助保障跑道安全。過去需要每日人工檢查，現在工作人員可以依賴全天候自動掃描跑道上的異物，快速清除。

田佩玲女士、陳潔瑩女士、沙拉爾·塔哈先生和瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士詢問我們如何幫助企業，尤其是中小企業（SMEs），從AI中受益。通過“中小企業數字化計劃”等舉措，自2017年以來，我們已幫助約10萬家中小企業，過去四年中有4萬家受益。

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採用至少一項數字解決方案用於一般業務功能的中小企業比例從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年間通過生產力解決方案補助金（PSG）採用數字解決方案的中小企業，每項解決方案平均節省成本48%。

德里克·吳先生和克里斯托弗·德索薩先生分別向我們提交了他們的發言摘要。他們會高興地知道，我們致力於加速中小企業的AI採用。

我們正在更新行業數字計劃（IDPs），納入行業特定的AI工具和培訓。零售、安全、建築環境、法律和旅遊行業的計劃已完成更新。今年我們將更新更多行業計劃，如餐飲和酒店行業。2024年，超過33萬用戶訪問了技術長即服務（CTO-as-a-Service）平臺，幫助近3,000家中小企業採用AI解決方案。在約300個PSG預批准解決方案中，約30%為AI驅動。

去年，我們推出了生成式AI沙盒，允許中小企業試驗13種生成式AI解決方案，以提升營銷和銷售，簡化客戶互動。

超過150名參與者之一是AHA Inspiration，一家健康與保健服務平臺提供商。通過將生成式AI聊天機器人整合到其網站和移動應用，AHA員工現在能幾乎以兩倍速度處理客戶諮詢，同時提供更個性化的服務。AHA Inspiration是120家在三個月沙盒期後繼續使用生成式AI解決方案的中小企業之一。沙盒經驗強化了通過試驗讓中小企業發現生成式AI價值的重要性。

基於此成功，IMDA於去年十二月推出了生成式AI沙盒2.0，提供14種解決方案，支援更廣泛的生成式AI應用，如生成式網頁設計，幫助中小企業通過提示建立網站。中小企業還可嘗試用於人力資源操作的生成式AI工具，如建立職位描述和安排面試。如果這些生成式AI解決方案被證明有用，我們計劃將其加入預批准解決方案列表，讓所有中小企業受益。

我們也收到反饋，沙盒提供行業特定解決方案可能更有用。IMDA樂意與相關行業負責人和行業協會合作策劃這些解決方案。

除了對所有中小企業的廣泛支援外，我們還通過生成式AI x 數字領導者（Gen AI x DL）計劃，藉助科技巨頭的能力，加速數字化成熟企業的生成式AI採用。這些企業可能需要定製化解決方案，現成產品無法完全滿足。

迄今為止，已有超過120家企業使用科技巨頭及其合作伙伴提供的資源，其中四分之一正在構建和部署這些解決方案。

例如，iHub Solutions是一家第三方物流服務提供商。iHub員工面臨大量臨時報告請求，手動製作報告耗時且易出錯。通過該計劃，iHub利用技術合作夥伴的專業知識開發了基於AI的報告生成工具。藉助該工具，員工可通過簡單提示自動生成報告，報告製作時間減少一半。iHub客戶也可利用該工具獲取即時供應鏈洞察，輔助決策。

為抓住大規模部署生成式AI解決方案的機會，IMDA將擴大生成式AI x 數字領導者合作，利用技術合作夥伴的新開發工具和預打包軟體模組，更快部署常見用例解決方案。該計劃正在試點，準備好後將分享更多細節。

田佩玲女士還詢問政府如何鼓勵更多企業採用生成式AI。我們認識到企業面臨不同挑戰。

基於早期採用者的經驗和最佳實踐，IMDA將推出面向企業的生成式AI手冊，涵蓋不同數字成熟階段。剛開始探索生成式AI的企業，手冊通過案例說明生成式AI的好處，並提供針對特定需求的生成式AI解決方案資源。

對於在購買現成解決方案和構建專有解決方案之間猶豫的企業，手冊提供評估框架和相關風險資訊，幫助其做出明智選擇。對於數字成熟企業尋求定製解決方案，手冊提供技術能力和合作夥伴見解，確保成功實施，並涵蓋潛在風險和治理考量。手冊適合所有企業。

配合手冊，IMDA將推出線上工具生成式AI導航器，為特定業務需求推薦合適的生成式AI解決方案。導航器還將指向有補助支援的解決方案和SkillsFuture Singapore（SSG）資助的培訓，幫助中小企業瞭解如何利用生成式AI實現增長。這些工具從今天起在CTO-as-a-Service平臺上線。

主席，請允許我用普通話發言。

（普通話）：[請參閱方言發言。] 在政府的支援和推動下，超過80%的中小企業已成功乘上數字化浪潮。這些企業涵蓋多個行業，均採用了至少一項數字解決方案並取得積極成效。許多企業也發現AI能幫助降低成本、提升效率，從而緩解成本壓力。

2018年至2023年間，生產力解決方案補助金支援的數字解決方案平均為中小企業帶來近50%的成本節約。為了讓更多企業受益，政府將重新整理各行業數字計劃，提供更多AI解決方案。同時，我們將推出新的生成式AI企業手冊和導航器，推薦適合其需求的生成式AI工具和培訓。有興趣的企業可訪問CTO-as-a-Service平臺瞭解詳情。

AI的廣泛採用已顯著影響我們的工作和生活。本地企業和員工必須跟上步伐，保持競爭力，避免落後。因此，我呼籲大家抓緊時間，充分利用政府的支援和資源提升數字能力。只有這樣，我們才能抓住技術發展帶來的機遇，在競爭中脫穎而出。

（英文）：主席，隨著企業數字化，它們將面臨更多網路威脅。沙拉爾·塔哈先生詢問我們如何幫助企業保持安全。

網路安全域性（CSA）的新加坡網路安全計劃為企業提供差異化支援。作為基礎，CSA為各類企業利益相關者提供資源，如中小企業主、員工和網路安全人員。希望實施網路安全措施的企業可參考2022年制定的國家網路安全標準——網路基礎和網路信任認證標誌。

為協助需要網路安全認證的企業，CSA於2023年推出了首席資訊安全官（CISO）即服務計劃。該計劃補充了IMDA的CTO即服務計劃，聘請網路安全顧問幫助企業制定網路安全健康計劃，實施網路基礎中的預防措施。該計劃已惠及270多家企業，我們將繼續努力提升企業網路衛生標準。

去年，我們將中小企業數字化計劃與網路基礎認證標誌對齊。在預批准解決方案中，中小企業現在可訂閱涵蓋反惡意軟體、防火牆和備份的綜合套餐。我們還要求中小企業數字化計劃下的預批准解決方案滿足最低資料保護和安全控制標準。

未來，CSA將在2025年上半年擴大網路基礎和網路信任認證，涵蓋雲端計算和AI等數字技術的安全，確保其適應不斷變化的數字環境。

除了提升標準，CSA還將為CISO即服務引入事件後報告和響應功能。網路安全事件無法完全預防，企業更需具備韌性並能從事件中恢復。通過該新功能，企業可尋求其CISO即服務顧問的幫助，控制並恢復網路安全事件。議員們可參考資料瞭解我們在企業數字化和網路安全方面的工作總結。

先生，我的更新到此為止，稍後將回答問題。

主席：數字發展與資訊國務部長拉哈尤·馬贊。

數字發展與資訊國務部長（拉哈尤·馬贊女士）：主席，許多人難以想象沒有網際網路或數字裝置的生活。根據MDDI於2023年進行的一項調查，80%的受訪者認為保持網際網路連線對他們很重要。

使用數字技術來提升我們的生活有健康的方式，也有不健康的方式，這些不健康的方式會讓我們面臨風險。我的發言將聚焦於MDDI激勵我們社群的努力，建設一個公民能夠享有日常生活必需的數字服務接入；具備使用數字技術的熟練能力；並通過全社會的共同努力，獲得安全、健康和積極的數字體驗的社會。我感謝蔡凱思先生對這些努力的關注。

讓我先從數字技術的接入說起。新加坡是一個高度互聯的國家；98%的常住家庭已接入網際網路。但我們必須關注那些有被排除風險的人群。IMDA幫助那些負擔不起的人。蘇涵怡女士詢問了IMDA計劃的最新情況。

自2023年以來，DigitalAccess@Home計劃已支援超過20,000個低收入家庭，提供補貼寬頻接入、筆記型電腦或平板電腦，或同時提供寬頻和計算裝置。自2020年以來，老年人移動接入計劃也支援了超過15,000個補貼智慧手機和移動套餐，或僅移動套餐的低收入老年人。

除了連線和裝置，日常數字服務需要使用者友好。對於一些新加坡人，如老年人和殘疾人士，使用未針對其需求設計的服務可能具有挑戰性。設計良好的網站或應用程式可以帶來巨大差異。這就是為什麼Singpass在2022年進行了增強，支援暗模式和螢幕閱讀器等功能，使視力障礙者更容易使用Singpass。

嚴偉傑先生詢問了在這方面更多的努力。政府非常重視包容性設計，政府機構在設計數字服務時應以使用者為中心。GovTech將加大對機構的支援力度。

今年，我們正在更新指導機構設計使用者友好數字服務的數字服務標準（DSS）。更新後的DSS將更好地向機構解釋國際標準，如網頁內容無障礙指南（WCAG），並提供如何滿足這些標準的建議。此外，將更加強調在高流量政府網站上線前進行使用者測試，以確保其使用者友好。

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我們還推出了機構可用來支援包容性設計的工具。例如，GovTech開發了Oobee工具，前稱Purple A11y，利用機器人幫助機構測試其網站的易用性並提出改進建議。GovTech將繼續增強這些工具，幫助機構識別和解決相關問題。這些努力為機構提供了更強的指導和支援，使其開發的數字服務無論年齡或數字能力如何，都易於使用。

GovTech將為擁有高流量數字服務的機構提供專門支援。但政府無法單獨推動這項工作。如今，新加坡人每天使用各種商業數字服務。私營部門在設計使用者友好數字服務中扮演重要角色。我們希望鼓勵並與他們合作。

我之前提到的Oobee工具是開源的，私營企業可免費使用。我們鼓勵更多企業利用該工具。

去年，GovTech舉辦了首屆共創實驗室，彙集了政府機構、私營企業及社群使用者代表。我們欣慰地看到許多合作伙伴積極瞭解老年人和殘疾人在使用數字服務時面臨的挑戰，如電子支付、使用叫車應用和預約醫療服務。這些對話幫助服務提供者識別改進服務的方向，使其更使用者友好。共創實驗室展示了加強公私及民間部門合作的必要性。

MDDI將與來自公私及民間部門的合作伙伴成立工作組，共同創造和共同推動更使用者友好的數字服務舉措。該工作組的詳情將稍後公佈。

在提升數字服務使用者友好性的同時，我們也認識到部分新加坡人需要實體支援以訪問政府服務。陳武明博士和潘淑儀女士在預算辯論中提及此點，嚴偉傑先生也在其質詢中提出。

需要政府數字交易協助的居民可繼續在政府機構的實體服務點獲得面對面幫助。受過培訓的服務大使將協助數字能力較弱的個人完成交易。居民也可前往ServiceSG中心，獲得600項常用政府服務和計劃的幫助。政府將繼續以公民為中心，提供非數字選項，確保無人被排除。

接下來談談數字技能。三分之二的新加坡人具備基本數字技能，能夠線上完成日常任務，如購買商品和服務、搜尋資訊及使用智慧手機進行無接觸支付。

為了為數字未來做好準備，新加坡人還需學習新技術，如生成式人工智慧（Gen AI），它能幫助我們完成日常任務。正如潘淑儀女士在預算辯論中強調的，這種技能提升至關重要。否則，隨著生成式人工智慧的廣泛應用，例如許多企業使用聊天機器人提供客戶服務，可能會讓人感到陌生和恐懼。為了解除對生成式人工智慧的神秘感，我們必須瞭解其風險和侷限，並學會負責任地使用它。政府將繼續支援數字能力較弱的公民。

嚴偉傑先生和蘇涵怡女士詢問了“老年人數字化”計劃。SG數字辦公室（SDO）將繼續根據“生活數字技能”（DSL）框架，幫助公民掌握日常生活所需的數字技能。這有助於防止數字孤立，正如翁瑞秋小姐在預算辯論中提出的。

自2020年以來，SDO已培訓超過370,000名老年人。截至2023年，96%的老年人線上交流，高於2017年的87%。

IMDA將增強DSL框架，加入生成式人工智慧內容，解釋其基礎知識、風險及管理方法，以及日常應用，如生成餐飲推薦或休閒活動建議。有興趣的學習者可報名參加SDO工作坊，或通過“數字生活門戶”自學。許多新加坡人也熱衷於擁抱如人工智慧等新技術。

嚴偉傑先生詢問了圖書館鼓勵技術採用的新舉措。未來幾年，我們的公共圖書館將推出展示，供公眾體驗生成式人工智慧的應用。我們希望這些展示能體現人工智慧在日常生活中的實用價值，激發公民對這些可能性的興趣，同時幫助他們理解侷限並學會負責任地使用人工智慧。生成式人工智慧是有用的工具，但不能替代學習或原創思考。

這些只是公民在國家圖書館理事會（NLB）慶祝2025年30週年時可享受的部分活動。NLB將舉辦一系列“NLB30”活動，紀念30年及以後賦能新加坡人共同閱讀、學習和發現。更多詳情將於今年晚些時候公佈。主席先生，我將用馬來語說幾句話。

（馬來語）：[請參閱本地語演講。] 學習使用尖端技術的最佳方式之一是與志同道合的人一起學習。

一個開創性的舉措是Lorong AI社群中心，為擁有相似興趣和技能的人工智慧愛好者提供空間，共同探索如何推動人工智慧發展。通過該平臺，他們交流想法，討論最新發現，製作原型，探索人工智慧在日常生活中的應用。

穆罕默德·扎哈里·阿布·塔利布先生在Lorong AI中扮演關鍵角色。作為社群負責人，他幫助連線個人，發起討論，聯絡各團體。我親自感受到他們的學習、分享和協作熱情，當時我參加了Lorong AI組織的“人工智慧星期三”分享會。

在我們的馬來/穆斯林社群，許多人已開始探索人工智慧。一個名為PEREKA的團體，由來自各領域的馬來/穆斯林設計師組成，分享了他們如何利用人工智慧提升工作。我最近有機會與他們會面，聽到他們如何利用人工智慧最佳化工作流程，我感到非常興奮。

目標不是取代人類創造力，而是促進構思過程和資訊收集。所有這些都是為了設計符合我們文化價值和身份的設計特徵，同時確保人文關懷貫穿整個設計過程。

我真誠希望更多像這樣的充滿活力的本地團體湧現，他們可以共同學習，激發有趣的想法，利用技術造福新加坡人。

（英語）：主席先生，現在讓我談談我們如何裝備未來一代以受益於生成式人工智慧。我們已有“程式設計樂趣”計劃，面向所有小學和中學，向學生介紹通過編碼進行計算思維，以及通過數字創作進行創新思維。今年起，“程式設計樂趣”計劃將納入新的“人工智慧樂趣”模組，提供學生動手操作人工智慧技術的機會。

例如，小學生將學習如何使用適當的生成式人工智慧平臺生成故事和影像，製作數字故事板。學生將被教授生成式人工智慧的風險，如偏見和幻覺，以及核對人工智慧生成內容的必要性。

今年約60%的小學和40%的中學將引入“人工智慧樂趣”課程。我們的目標是確保每位新加坡人，無論年齡大小，都被鼓勵以知情和負責任的方式學習、使用並享受新技術。

這引出了網路安全話題。網路上發生的事件，如生成和傳播深度偽造裸照，造成現實生活中的傷害，是不可接受的。2024年約74%的新加坡人遇到過有害的網路內容。這導致一些人對網際網路感到恐懼，擔心它似乎正在改變我們社會的結構。但重要的是認識到，這些傷害不是技術本身造成的，而是由不良行為者和不良行為引起的。

政府將盡力減少網路風險。張玉娟部長早前談及我們的法規，要求指定的社交媒體服務和應用分發服務採取安全措施，保護使用者免受有害內容影響。

然而，法規並非萬無一失。正如蔡偉傑先生指出，其他國家考慮的禁令和年齡限制聽起來有說服力，但實際上總有規避這些規則和限制的方法。

公民也必須採取措施保護自己和親人。家長在引導孩子的數字旅程中扮演關鍵角色。政府理解家長對兒童過度使用螢幕和暴露於網路風險的擔憂。

衛生部在“健康成長新加坡”和“健康育兒倡議”下更新了螢幕使用指導，幫助家長更好地保護孩子免受不當內容影響，培養良好的螢幕使用習慣。家長還可在IMDA的“數字生活”門戶找到簡明資源。議員們可參閱資料單瞭解這些資源清單。今年晚些時候還將推出關於技術和社交媒體的積極使用指南。

青年是塑造網路行為和文化的關鍵群體。應鼓勵青年利用其影響力營造積極的網路環境。我在新加坡管理大學最近舉辦的數字健康巡展中看到學生們倡導更友善的網際網路，感到鼓舞。一個展位展示了互動遊戲，教參與者如何在網路對話中以關懷和善意回應朋友。兩天的巡展吸引了超過650名學生參與。

有害的網路言論令人擔憂，因為它削弱了我們相互理解的能力，破壞了社會凝聚力。正如嚴偉傑先生提到的，我們必須在網路空間保持公民意識，就像我們在社群、公園和學校等共享實體空間中的行為一樣。

政府致力於探索新方法，培育積極的網路空間。我們將研究網路極化等可能負面影響社會凝聚力的問題，探索鼓勵網路積極性和公民意識的方式。

政府的工作中，瞭解社群情緒非常重要。這使我們能準確識別新加坡人的關切，並符合響應型政府的期望。

嚴偉傑先生分享了他對調查的經歷，並詢問是否由政府委託。不幸的是，海報未向嚴先生披露調查委託方身份。未見實際問卷，難以確定調查是否由政府進行。

在MDDI的情況下，我們定期進行民意調查，瞭解公眾對詐騙的認知、主流及網路媒體質量及公眾新聞消費習慣。若受訪者詢問，我們代表會說明調查由MDDI委託。

我們進行媒體調查，幫助政府機構調整公共傳播工作，更好地觸及關鍵國家政策的目標群體，也幫助塑造公共廣播資金。詐騙調查結果幫助MDDI制定應對網路危害的政策。

政府委託調查的結果——

主席：拉哈尤國務部長，您可能想做總結。

拉哈尤·馬哈贊女士：是的，只剩兩段。

政府委託調查的結果在有益時會公開分享。但因調查主要用於制定公共政策，並非所有結果適合公開發布。

關於嚴偉傑先生擔憂政府委託調查可能被用於非公共政策目的，此類調查資金須遵守與政府機構其他公共支出相同的治理要求。

總結，主席先生，我們邀請所有人——個人、企業和社群組織——成為“數字生活”運動的夥伴，加入我們，共同幫助新加坡建設包容且有凝聚力的數字社會。我們每個人都有責任讓我們的網路空間安全、健康和積極。

主席：陳佩玲女士。

陳佩玲女士：主席，我有三點澄清。首先，聽到為更好保護新加坡人免受網路危害而採取的多項措施令人欣慰。我還想了解更多已做或將做的工作，以保護公民免受詐騙，讓他們感到安全、有能力並更有信心線上互動和交易，這也是我們談論的信任的一部分。

第二，關於DeepSeek。主席，我想問從最近出現的DeepSeek中吸取了哪些教訓，因為它被宣傳為更便宜、更環保，以及對我們新加坡的影響，是否可能提煉出獨特的新加坡特色。

最後，關於資助本地語媒體，我認為本地語媒體在國際上展示新加坡聲音和觀點方面具有戰略作用。例如，《聯合早報》在某些地區或區域擁有強大影響力和網路，對維護我們的觀點非常有用。

因此，我想問這方面的資助支援是否會繼續或加強，我們還會做些什麼來提升這方面，以加強新加坡在世界舞臺上的地位。

張玉娟女士：主席，首先感謝陳女士對我們工作的認可，特別是她對保護本地語媒體重要性的肯定。

如果我們考慮繼續在國際舞臺上展示新加坡聲音的需要，實際上本地語媒體的角色更加突出。因此，我希望認可她的肯定並予以確認。

下午2時30分

公共服務媒體資金支援的大部分用於幫助我們的公共服務媒體實體在數字時代保持相關性，因此技術升級至關重要。但我們始終堅持同時支援優質新聞，這涵蓋所有語言媒介。特別是考慮到本地語媒體的國內市場實際上很小，他們需要額外支援。因此，與公共服務媒體實體的共識是，他們必須預留足夠資源，關鍵績效指標也會跟蹤本地語媒體的表現。

我認為他們在關鍵績效指標（KPI）上的表現，不僅僅是看他們的業績表現，更是幫助我們瞭解媒體環境如何變化，以及為了支援方言媒體的持續生存能力還需要做些什麼。

讓我也回應一下田女士關於信息通信發展局（MDDI）如何支援內政部（MHA）——打擊詐騙的主導機構——的問題。我們主要通過兩方面來支援：第一，破壞並使詐騙者更難接觸到新加坡人，無論是通過電話、簡訊，還是被惡意軟體感染的應用程式，因為這正是受害者上當的方式。這就是我們工作小組內部所稱的“攻擊因素”。第二，開發技術支援內政部檢測和破壞詐騙活動。這就是兩大主要支援領域。

為了讓議員瞭解這些努力的成效，2023年，IMDA實施了完整的簡訊傳送者身份註冊制度，未註冊的簡訊會被標記為“可能是詐騙”。我相信我們都收到過這樣的簡訊，我個人也收過。這項措施非常有效。該制度實施的前三個月，詐騙簡訊案件下降了70%，此後保持在較低水平。IMDA還與電信公司合作，加強了網路內對詐騙電話和簡訊的檢測與攔截。

2024年，IMDA阻止了1.17億個來自海外的潛在詐騙電話，佔所有國際電話的約25%。在簡訊方面，成功阻止了5000萬個潛在詐騙簡訊。IMDA還與電信公司合作，推出了阻止所有來電和簡訊的功能，意味著從使用者角度看，如果我不想冒任何風險，不想僅僅依賴自動攔截功能，我可以選擇不接收任何此類電話。截至目前，已有超過28萬用戶激活了阻止海外電話的功能，近22萬用戶激活了阻止海外簡訊的功能。

我在之前的發言中簡要提到，我們正與谷歌合作推出增強型防詐騙功能。該功能在新加坡預設開啟，已成功阻止了160萬次試圖安裝潛在惡意應用的行為，涉及近40萬臺裝置。如果加上GovTech與新加坡警察部隊（SPF）合作，關閉了4.5萬個詐騙相關網站，以及IMDA與SPF合作，關閉了超過5.7萬個被評估為可能用於詐騙的手機號碼，這些都是非常可觀的努力。但我們不會止步於此，還在與電信公司和線上平臺合作，打擊其服務的犯罪濫用。

主席：資政簡尼爾。希望答覆也能簡短，因為我看到有不少舉手發言。我真的希望大家保持答覆簡短。

簡尼爾·普圖切裡博士：主席，感謝田女士的問題。我們仍在研究此事。根據DeepSeek的說法，硬體和軟體的最佳化降低了訓練和推理成本，進而使計算更環保，因為所需能量減少，計算量只是一小部分。

如果這是真的，且該公司已將其模型開源，這確實可能是推動資源高效人工智慧發展的積極進展。然而，也有反對說法稱實際的計算叢集可能比報道的要大得多，且可能存在封閉模型的蒸餾。因此，事實尚不清楚，我們仍在研究，以瞭解如何在新加坡最佳部署計算能力，推動我們的目標。

主席：沙拉爾·塔哈先生。

沙拉爾·塔哈先生：主席，我感謝張部長和團隊回答我的發言。我的三個問題。關於部長分享的殭屍網路案件，2700臺受影響裝置的所有者是否被通知？我們如何防止新加坡的資產被這些殭屍網路利用？

分發的附件提到建議購買帶有CSA網路安全標籤計劃的物聯網裝置。是否有意讓新加坡銷售的所有物聯網裝置都接受CSA標籤評估？

其次，給資政簡尼爾，即使有前面討論的最佳化計算，新加坡的資料中心可持續性要求是否會影響我們在人工智慧領域的全球競爭力？考慮到額外的合規成本和即將實施的碳稅，這是否可能促使企業在其他地方設立資料中心，使得研究替代能源的時間表更加緊迫？

最後，我的最後一個問題在答覆中未被回答。給資政陳杰豪，2024年預算宣佈將與業界合作推動人工智慧的採用和創新。請問部委能否提供這些與業界合作的最新進展？

主席：誰先回答？是的，有一個給資政簡尼爾，一個給資政陳。

簡尼爾·普圖切裡博士：主席，感謝沙拉爾·塔哈先生的問題。關於綠色資料中心的推動是否會影響我們的全球競爭力並推高成本，我們確實需要在合規成本和要求之間取得平衡。但市場對此有很大興趣，如果我們能做好，這將成為我們的價值增值和潛在競爭力來源，使我們成為技術供應商和雲服務提供商設立更環保設施的地方，而他們的客戶也在尋找這類解決方案。

因此，雖然我們必須確保在合規成本和綠色推動之間取得正確平衡，但這是我們必須做的，因為我們面臨更大的碳排放限制問題。如果做得好，這將成為我們的競爭優勢。

陳杰豪先生：主席，在數字企業藍圖合作的第一批合作伙伴中，有七家承諾支援我們的企業和員工，涵蓋數字企業藍圖下的各項舉措。合作伙伴包括新加坡工商聯合會、微軟、Salesforce、亞馬遜網路服務、星展銀行、新加坡計算機學會和SG Tech。截至目前，他們已舉辦六場活動，提升預先批准供應商在雲技術、網路安全和生成式人工智慧方面的能力。他們還為近1000家中小企業舉辦了人工智慧和資料分析工作坊，幫助它們在當今技術驅動的商業環境中蓬勃發展。

我們將繼續擴大合作伙伴網路。去年11月，我們宣佈與星展銀行、Enterprise Singapore和IMDA合作，擴大覆蓋5萬家中小企業，通過加速生成式人工智慧的採用提升生產力。沙拉爾·塔哈先生會高興地知道，我們將分享與新合作伙伴的即將合作，例如與阿里雲合作提升解決方案提供商在人工智慧和雲技術方面的能力，以及與ST工程合作提升中小企業的網路韌性。我們歡迎更多合作伙伴加入，共同打造企業和員工能夠蓬勃發展的強大生態系統。

主席：辛格先生。抱歉，張部長，您現在要插話嗎？關於第一個問題，是的。

張玉泉女士：主席，針對這類殭屍網路破壞行動，速度至關重要，且要儘可能全面。因此，考慮到這些重要因素，不可能嘗試通知所有裝置所有者。相反，我們經常建議大家，只要裝置連線網際網路，就應遵守一些基本的安全習慣：更改預設密碼，定期重啟或重新啟動裝置，啟用自動韌體更新。這些是適用於所有人的一般指導。

在網路安全領域，還有一個說法叫“假設已被入侵”。這是一種必須牢記的心態。你必須保持警惕，假設裝置可能已被攻破，並需要定期清理。

主席：普里坦·辛格先生。

普里坦·辛格先生：主席，接著我之前的發言和部長的回應，如果比較我提到的兩個標題，CNA和海峽時報，都是嚴肅的主流英文媒體，公眾不可避免地會對哪個質量更高有自己的看法。我認為這沒有什麼不妥。

我想提出的核心問題是關於關鍵績效指標（KPI），這是我發言的標題。如果我沒聽錯，部長說覆蓋率是重要的KPI，但不是唯一的KPI。如果我沒理解錯，部長還說信任度和滿意度是部委計劃引入的KPI。那麼，我能否確認這些KPI目前實際上並未被考慮？

張玉泉女士：主席，當我們決定為任何有用活動提供資金時，我們必須當時考慮哪些是有效的績效追蹤方式，我們非常認真地做這件事。當時討論支援SPH媒體信託的資金時，覆蓋率是重要的KPI之一。隨著時間推移，我們也認為參與度很重要，實際上也是KPI之一，但除此之外，我們現在認為信任度和公眾滿意度同樣重要，因此我們會考慮將它們納入SPH媒體信託的KPI追蹤中。

針對議員之前發言中提出的問題，我也簡要回應。他問到預算書中包含了什麼。我認可他的建議，我們會考慮未來採納，但要說明的是，像所有部委一樣，不可能列出所有KPI。希望議員理解這一點。重要的是，SPH媒體信託非常清楚KPI是我們對話的核心內容，他們對此感受深刻。這是我想說的。

關於海峽時報和CNA的比較，事實是意見會有所不同。如果你問10個人的看法，可能會得到至少15種意見。所以我們認為這是理所當然的。我們會追蹤公眾對這些媒體信任度的看法，並將繼續這樣做。正如我在發言和其他場合分享的，它們的表現非常好。

主席：亞歷克斯·嚴先生。

亞歷克斯·嚴先生：謝謝主席。請教資政，您之前詳細談到了國家圖書館局（NLB）以及人工智慧的採用。眾所周知，人工智慧如今非常普及，那麼NLB如何確保人工智慧的採用尊重作者和內容創作者，當然也不降低創作內容的創造力和辛勤勞動的價值？

下午2點45分

拉哈尤·馬哈贊女士：確實，NLB視生成式人工智慧為有用工具，致力於提供平臺和機會，讓公眾瞭解它。但我們也尊重不同利益。公眾對不同的人工智慧原型表現出強烈興趣。比如NLB的互動式ChatBook，介紹了S·拉賈拉曼，由生成式人工智慧驅動。

因此，NLB採取審慎態度開發此類原型，並實施保障措施，如使用受控資料集，確保獲得作者和創作者的版權及許可，並進行廣泛測試。這確保人工智慧被倫理且負責任地使用，以補充而非取代作者和創作者的努力。

通過這些原型，NLB也希望幫助訪客發現作家、故事和內容，並以不同方式體驗它們。

主席：賈米爾·吉安先生。

賈米爾·吉安松先生：主席，我注意到資政拉哈尤說，數字技能較低的公民可以獲得面對面幫助。我能否確認所有政府機構都應為其電子服務提供面對面幫助？

其次，資政能否確認所有政府委託的民調機構都應在未被受訪者要求的情況下，披露其受政府委託並說明委託機構名稱？

最後，部委是否也考慮釋出這些民意調查的至少摘要？

拉哈尤·馬哈贊女士：主席，我先回答第二和第三個問題。

關於調查，澄清一點，MDDI並不協調政府所有的調查，因為每個政府機構會根據自身需求和議題單獨處理。因此，我們無法確認所有調查都符合該要求。

有些調查可能更傾向於匿名，因為如果告訴受訪者這是政府發起的調查，可能導致回答不準確或偏頗。例如，問及福利是否應改善或增加時，受訪者可能僅因是政府提問就要求更多，而不考慮實際情況。

所以，我不想假設，因為不同機構做法不同。

關於第三個問題，所有調查都是為了公眾利益。如果調查資訊有用，我們希望儘可能釋出，以豐富公共討論。

但有些情況不適合公開，比如資料包含機密或個人資訊，公開後可能被重新識別；涉及種族或宗教敏感議題的調查結果；以及與合作機構的協議或合同限制。

因此，不同調查有不同考慮和處理方式。

議員還有一個問題，是關於我們的服務。我們盡力確保有替代方案和支援。正如我說的，我們設立了ServiceSG中心，目的是提供幫助。我們會盡力確保有需要且無法自行訪問電子服務的人能獲得幫助。幫助形式多樣，如果有反饋，我們會努力彌補不足。

主席：抱歉，時間到了，傑西卡·譚女士和王華漢先生未能發言。請問田佩玲女士，您是否願意撤回修正案？

田佩玲女士：我衷心感謝張玉泉部長、資政簡尼爾·普圖切裡、資政陳杰豪、資政拉哈尤·馬哈贊以及所有MDDI的工作人員。感謝你們的辛勤工作。確實，為了讓我們在數字領域佔據有利位置，需要付出複雜的努力。

因此，我請求撤回我的修正案。

[(程式文本) 經許可，修正案撤回。 (程式文本)]

[(程式文本) 預算總額2,956,698,500元，Q項下，批准列入主要預算。 (程式文本)]

[(程式文本) 預算總額103,188,200元，Q項下，批准列入發展預算。 (程式文本)]

主席：我們已經坐了將近五個小時。現在我提議休息。秩序。

[(程式文本) 隨後議長離開委員會主席席，回到議會主席席。 (程式文本)]

議長：秩序。我宣佈休會，下午3點10分重新開會。秩序。

會議休會

下午2點51分至3點10分。

會議於下午3點10分恢復

[副議長（譚順娘女士）主持]

英文原文

SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 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.

12.45 pm

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.

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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]

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