In conjunction with the presidential election on 1 September 2023, the Elections Department (ELD) has updated its “Advisory Guidelines on the Application of the Personal Data Protection Act to Election Activities” on 28 July 2023.
Separately, on 31 July 2023, the ELD issued an advisory to candidates and political parties on potential cyberthreats and the corresponding preventive measures.
Off the Shelf, the Global Consumer Goods & Retail Industry Video Podcast, provides short practical legal insights into the key issues affecting consumer goods and retail (CG&R) businesses. Season 3 looks at how artificial intelligence is impacting the CG&R industry.
On 18 July 2023, the PDPC issued two public consultation papers, seeking views on: (a) the proposed clarifications on how the PDPA applies to the collection and use of personal data to develop and deploy artificial intelligence (AI) systems that embed machine learning models used to make decisions, recommendations or predictions; and (b) the proposed Advisory Guidelines on the PDPA for children’s personal data, covering issues such as obtaining children’s consent, using children’s personal data and according higher standards of protection to children’s personal data.
In a recent decision by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) in Re Fullerton Healthcare Group Pte Limited and Agape CP Holdings Pte Ltd [2023] SGPDPC 5, the PDPC found that the respondents breached the protection obligation under the Personal Data Protection Act and ordered each of them to pay a financial penalty.
The Online Criminal Harms Bill was passed in parliament on 5 July 2023, after its second reading. The bill follows a suite of legislation aimed at protecting the public from harms in the online space and introduces mechanisms for authorities to more effectively tackle online criminal activity.
On 8 May 2023, the Online Criminal Harms Bill was introduced for its first reading in the Parliament. The Bill follows a suite of legislation aimed at protecting the public from harms in the online space, and introduces mechanisms for authorities to more effectively tackle online criminal activity.
On 9 May 2023, the Ministry of Communications and Information published a statement by its minister announcing plans to issue Advisory Guidelines on the Use of Personal Data in AI Systems under the Personal Data Protection Act. Singapore had previously launched A.I. Verify, the world’s first AI governance testing framework and toolkit for companies that wish to demonstrate responsible AI in an objective and verifiable manner. By issuing the Advisory Guidelines, the government plans to support the responsible development and deployment of AI so that its benefits may be enjoyed in a safe and trusted manner.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning technology is driving important new business opportunities across a growing number of industry sectors, including consumer goods and retail. Many CG&R companies are looking into how AI can enhance their business processes and customer interactions and with generative AI and the arrival of ChatGPT, the scope for application is staggering.
The Carbon Pricing (Amendment) Act 2022 (“Act”), which came into force on 7 March 2023 and amends the Carbon Pricing Act 2018, seeks to advance Singapore’s transition towards net-zero.
The Act aims to encourage emitters of greenhouse gases to proactively reduce emissions by:
(a) progressively increasing carbon tax rates;
(b) introducing an industry transition framework to provide transitory allowances to companies in Emissions-Intensive Trade-Exposed sectors;
(c) setting up an International Carbon Credits framework; and
(d) revising the list of greenhouse gases and their Global Warming Potential Values.
On 31 May 2021, the Personal Data Protection Commission received a complaint that RedMart Limited was collecting images of the physical National Registration Identity Card and other identification documents of suppliers making deliveries to its warehouses.