Join the Internet Society Singapore Chapter on Zoom at 7PM on Wednesday 10 March 2021, as we host a lively panel discussion on two very Singaporean online privacy issues that have hit the news recently: TraceTogether and Device Management Application (MOE’s DMA for students’ Personal Learning Devices). Pose questions to our panel of technology, security, and legal experts and share your own thoughts.

Immediately after the webinar ends (8PM) you are also invited to stay on (optional) for the Annual General Meeting of the Internet Society Singapore Chapter and election of the new Executive Committee.

Background Reading on TraceTogether

• Comprehensive timeline by Harish Pillay: Of Trust, Transparency and Privacy – TraceTogether https://psp.org.sg/of-trust-transparency-and-privacy-tracetogether/
• 5 Jun 2020: (Speech in Parliament) “this data is only used for contact tracing” https://www.smartnation.gov.sg/whats-new/speeches/parliamentary-sitting-on-5-june-2020
• 12 Jun 2020: Are Our Fears About The TraceTogether Token Justified? We Asked A Data Privacy Expert https://www.ricemedia.co/current-affairs-features-tracetogether-token-data-privacy-expert-interview/ (interview with Roland Turner, who is also an Executive Committee member of the Internet Society Singapore Chapter)
• 4 Jan 2021: Police may use TraceTogether data for criminal investigations: Desmond Tan https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/police-may-use-tracetogether-data-criminal-investigations-desmond-tan
• 5 Jan 2021: (SNDGO Speeches) Clarification on the Usage of TraceTogether Data by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (“Frankly I had not thought of the CPC“) https://www.smartnation.gov.sg/whats-new/speeches/clarification-on-the-usage-of-tracetogether-data-by-dr-vivian-balakrishnan
• 5 Jan 2021: SCMP: Teo Yi-Ling quoted on “bait and switch” https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3116541/coronavirus-tracetogether-data-used-murder-case
• 6 Jan 2021: Some TraceTogether users upset with Govt’s revelation on police access to data, say they’ll use it less https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/some-tracetogether-users-upset-govts-revelation-police-access-data-say-theyll-use-it-less
• 7 Jan 2021: Commentary (The Diplomat): Singapore Backtracks on COVID-19 Tracking App Privacy Pledge https://thediplomat.com/2021/01/singapore-backtracks-on-covid-19-tracking-app-privacy-pledge/
• 7 Jan 2021: Commentary (RSIS): Why Data, Including Those from TraceTogether, is Vital in Policing and Keeping Singapore Safe https://www.rsis.edu.sg/media-highlight/cens/why-data-including-those-from-tracetogether-is-vital-in-policing-and-keeping-singapore-safe/
• 26 Jan 20201: Commentary (The Diplomat): Someone to Watch Over Me: Trusting Surveillance in Singapore’s ‘Smart Nation’ (Teo Yi-Ling and Muhammad Faizal Abdul Rahman) https://thediplomat.com/2021/01/someone-to-watch-over-me-trusting-surveillance-in-singapores-smart-nation/
• 1 Feb 2021: (Fortune) Countries vowed to restrict use of COVID-19 data. For one government, the temptation was too great https://fortune.com/2021/02/01/singapore-covid-data-tracetogether-use-law-criminal/
• 1 Feb 2021: Commentary (by Harish Pillay): An interesting justification for use of TT data – the case for a Digital Bill of Rights. https://harishpillay.com/2021/02/01/an-interesting-case-for-justification-for-use-of-tt-data-the-case-for-a-digital-bill-of-rights/
• 2 Feb 2021: Commentary (RSIS): Smart Nation: Privacy Protection and Public Trust (Teo Yi-Ling, Manoj Harjani) https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/cens/smart-nation-privacy-protection-and-public-trust/
• 3 Feb 2021: Bill restricting use of TraceTogether data for serious crimes passed by Parliament https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/bill-restrict-tracetogether-to-serious-crimes-passed-parliament-14096726
• 4 Feb 2021: Commentary (Bloomberg): Singapore Can Curb Covid and Crime With Your Data https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-02-03/singaporeans-aren-t-wary-of-using-tracetogether-for-crime-yet
• 4 Feb 2021: Commentary (CPO): Lessons From TraceTogether: Citizens Are Happy To Hand Over Data So Long as Use Is Transparent https://www.cpomagazine.com/data-privacy/lessons-from-tracetogether-citizens-are-happy-to-hand-over-data-so-long-as-use-is-transparent/
• 5 Feb 2021: Commentary (Straits Times): Trust, tracking, transparency – road bumps in Spore’s Smart Nation journey https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/trust-tracking-transparency-road-bumps-in-spores-smart-nation-journey
• 10 Feb 2021: Commentary (Al Jazeera, by Kirsten Han): COVID app triggers overdue debate on privacy in Singapore https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/10/covid-app-triggers-overdue-debate-on-privacy-in-singapore
• 16 Feb 2021: Commentary (LKYSPP): TraceTogether: Questions of Data and Privacy https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/gia/article/tracetogether-questions-of-data-and-privacy
• 17 Feb 2021: Commentary (CSIS): Singapore’s Updated TraceTogether Privacy Policy Could Erode Public Trust https://www.csis.org/blogs/new-perspectives-asia/singapores-updated-tracetogether-privacy-policy-could-erode-public-trust
• 22 Feb 2021: Commentary (Financial Times): Singapore’s data debacle shakes city-state’s ‘smart’ ambitions https://www.ft.com/content/1cc807c9-9e2b-4dfd-9c11-54a990bbd2f0

Background Reading on Device Management

• 4 Mar 2020 All sec school students to own a digital learning device which can be paid for using Edusave: MOE https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/all-secondary-school-students-own-digital-learning-device-2028-can-pay-using-edusave-moe
• 21 Oct 2020 Commentary: Laptops for every student – a lot could go wrong https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/laptops-students-distraction-online-learning-13319666
• 29 Dec 2020 Blended Learning to Enhance Schooling Experience and Further Develop Students into Self-Directed Learners
  https://www.moe.gov.sg/news/press-releases/20201229-blended-learning-to-enhance-schooling-experience-and-further-develop-students-into-self-directed-learners
• Admiralty Secondary School briefing to parents https://admiraltysec.moe.edu.sg/qql/slot/u752/Useful%20Information/Cyberwellness/Manage%20Child%20iPad%20Using%20MDM%20Parental%20Portal_30%20Mar.pdf
• 26 Jan 2021 Petition against MOE implementing a device management application on each student’s laptop https://theindependent.sg/petition-against-moe-implementing-a-device-management-application-on-each-students-laptop/
• 28 Jan 2021 The issue with MOE and the #FixSchoolsNotStudents tag | campus.sg https://www.campus.sg/the-issue-with-moe-and-the-fixschoolsnotstudents-tag-campus-sg/
• 29 Jan 2021 Security software on learning devices will track search history but not students’ locations: MOE
  https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/security-software-on-learning-devices-will-not-track-students
• 1 Feb 2021 Application installed on students’ devices does not track personal information MOE https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/students-laptop-dma-device-application-track-information-moe-14085914
• 1 Feb 2021 Singapore refutes suggestions software on students’ devices tracks personal data https://www.zdnet.com/article/singapore-refutes-suggestions-software-on-students-devices-tracks-personal-data/
• 3 Feb 2021 Forum: Security software in learning devices upends teacher-student dynamic https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-security-software-in-learning-devices-upends-teacher-student-dynamic
• 26 Feb 2021 MOE flexible on students’ use of devices after school https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/moe-flexible-on-students-use-of-devices-after-school
• Other projects overseas
  • Pittsburgh 19 Nov 2020 ‘The cameras are always on’: Student surveillance and privacy protection in the age of e-learning https://www.publicsource.org/the-cameras-are-always-on-student-surveillance-and-privacy-protection-in-the-age-of-e-learning/
  • 11 Oct 2010 Lower Merion School District and Blake Robbins Reach a Settlement in Spycamgate https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2010/10/11/lower-merion-school-district-and-blake-robbins-reach-a-settlement-in-spycamgate/?sh=2d1874d92c60, also 56,000 Photos Taken in Student-Laptop Scandal https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/webcamgate-56000-shots-taken-via-student-laptops/1895795/

To find out more and to register to join the Zoom call, visit https://www.meetup.com/ISOCSG/events/276517637/

More than 300 people joined InterCommunity: Securing Global Routing for an informative conversation about protecting the Internet from the most common routing threats.

A big thank you to our moderator and panelists: Melchior Aelmans of Juniper Networks, Abdul Awal of the Bangladesh National DataCentre, Mark Tinka of SEACOM, Kevin Blumberg from TORIX, Jorge Cano from NIC.mx, and Tashi Phuntsho from APNIC. If you missed the community call, or want to experience it again, you can watch the recording here.

Ready to get involved? Learn more about the Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security at https://www.internetsociety.org/issues/manrs/  and contact us to participate with the Singapore Chapter

The new Committee for the Singapore Chapter was elected and takes office from 1 Jan 2020 – 31 Dec 2020. They are (From left to right) Roland Turner (Communications), Arul Gobinath (Auditor), Dr Ranjith Nayar (Ext Liaison), Srinivasa Rao (Education), Ankur Gupta (Vice President), Jay Nagarajan (President), Sofia Morales (Secretary), Benjamin Ang (Programmes), Sanjeev Gupta (Treasurer), Harish Pillay (Auditor)