Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has convened a Public Sector Data Security Review Committee to conduct a comprehensive review of data security practices across the entire Public Service.
This includes measures and processes related to the collection and protection of citizens’ personal data by public sector agencies, as well as by vendors who handle personal data on behalf of the Government.
In a press statement on Sunday, March 31, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the committee will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Mr Teo Chee Hean, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Public Sector Data Governance.
Private sector representatives with expertise in data security and technology, will also be part of the committee, in addition to ministers involved in Singapore’s Smart Nation efforts – Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Mr S Iswaran, Mr Chan Chun Sing, and Dr Janil Puthucheary.
PMO said that the review will look into how the government is securing and protecting citizens’ data from end-to-end. The committee will also recommend measures to improve the government’s protection of citizens’ data, and response to incidents. An action plan of immediate steps and longer term measures will be developed.
The move is aimed at ensuring that all public sector agencies maintain the highest standards of data governance. This is essential to uphold public confidence and deliver a high quality of public service to our citizens through the use of data, PMO said. The work of this committee will complement our efforts to achieve our Smart Nation vision, it added.
The Public Sector Data Security Review Committee will submit its findings and recommendations to the Prime Minister by 30 November 2019.