Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Laws to stiffen defences against cyber threats planned

SINGAPORE — A Cyber Security Bill will be tabled in Parliament to beef up security for Singapore’s information infrastructure, as part of a slew of changes by the Ministry of Communications and Information to keep pace with rapid technological growth.

SINGAPORE — A Cyber Security Bill will be tabled in Parliament to beef up security for Singapore’s information infrastructure, as part of a slew of changes by the Ministry of Communications and Information to keep pace with rapid technological growth.

Apart from restructuring the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore and the Media Development Authority of Singapore to form two new statutory boards, the Government will also review the Telecommunications Act, Broadcast Act and Films Act “to keep pace with the demands of the converged infocomm media space”, he said.

Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim revealed these today (Jan 21) in his ministry’s addendum to President Tony Tan’s address last Friday.

The Cyber Security Bill will give the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, which is managed by the ministry, “greater powers to secure our critical information infrastructure”,

The agency, which is the national body overseeing cyber security strategy, education and outreach, will be tasked to strengthen the “critical sectors” of energy, water, transport, health, infocomm, media, security and emergency services, as well as the banking and financial sectors against cyber threats.

Spending on cyber security will increase to at least 8 per cent of the Government’s information technology budget in the long-term.

“We will develop the cyber security ecosystem in Singapore, and grow cyber security talent and manpower,” Dr Yaacob said. “We will also seek international cooperation on cyber security to overcome the transnational nature of cyber threats, and work with the private sector to raise public awareness of the importance of cyber security.”

To help workers pick up new skills in the “increasingly important” areas of computational thinking, coding, design thinking and storytelling, the ministry will expand existing initiatives for young Singaporeans, set up more facilities, and provide greater access to networking opportunities.

The Smart Nation Programme Office under the Prime Minister’s Office will focus on how technology can enhance public transport and homes, as Singapore works towards becoming a Smart Nation, where citizens, industries, research institutions and the Government work together to co-create innovative solutions.

The office, headed by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, is collecting more data through bus and taxi sensors and these would be shared with commuters to allow them to plan their trips. It has started experimenting with future modes of public transport such as autonomous vehicles, and other smart solutions being explored including a pilot programme in Yuhua housing estate, where some residents get to test and feedback on home energy management solutions.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.