SINGAPORE PASSES DATA PROTECTION BILL
Ever received an unwanted SMS text ad or been on the receiving end of an annoying
telemarketing
call?
That will be a thing of the past after a new Data Protection Bill was passed in Parliament on
Monday
15
Oct
2012.
The Bill, which covers all private sector organizations, will ensure that individuals have to be
informed of the purpose of the use and disclosure of their personal information by the firms.
The bill does not apply to public sectors which include government ministries.
The Bill, which was passed after a lengthy debate, has gone through three rounds of public
consultation by the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts (MICA) since last
September, gathering feedback of about 1,900 respondents. It will kick in early next year and
companies will be given 18 months to adjust to the new law, with support given from the
commissioning
body
to
facilitate
the
transitioning
period
as
well.
A new Do-Not-Call (DNC) registry is also slated to be launched in 2014. This system allows
individuals to opt-out of receiving marketing messages. Consumers who have opted out and
still receive such messages can lodge a complaint to the government body.
The Bill does not extend to spam emails or protection from cyber bullying.
A Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) will be set up to oversee matters pertaining
to this act. It will focus on public education to help consumers understand the need to protect
their
personal
data.
Several persons questioned if the Bill should make data protection for selected groups
compulsory