Tag: IMDA

Singapore – The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has updated the skills framework for media practitioners to include the new tech areas of virtual production and generative artificial intelligence (genAI).

The skills framework refresh is part of IMDA’s effort to accelerate the media industry and support professionals, springing from a consultation with experts.

First launched in 2018, IMDA’s framework acts as a guide for media practitioners, helping them upskill and remain relevant in the evolving industry. For employers, the framework can provide a structure for training.

Consequently, IMDA is offering training opportunities and apprenticeships with new skills included in the framework. This comes at a time when employment opportunities are increasing amidst the media market expansion in Singapore.

Meanwhile, Singapore is seeing a rise in virtual productions along with the launch of studios developed with relevant technology that can run international projects.

The refresh was announced during the opening of the Asia TV Forum and Market at the Singapore Media Festival. The event aims to inspire professionals in the media industry to bring their visions to life.

Tan Kiat How, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information & Ministry of National Development, said, “The Asia TV Forum and Market and the Singapore Media Festival are platforms for networking and collaborations. As Asia’s entertainment content industry grows, Singapore will be your partner to tell our stories to the world, and for the world to discover the talents and gems in Asia.”

“Today, we are taking an important step to do so by investing in the future of media – our media professionals so that they are equipped with the right skills, technology, and platforms to excel in this dynamic industry,” How added.

Singapore – The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has announced the launch of new Advanced Digital Solution categories for retail and security industries to empower SMEs to scale faster and grow in a digital economy. The new solutions are Omnichannel Retail Management (OCRM) and Integrated Security Management (ISM).

The pilot will run for one year and equip 100 SMEs with sophisticated digital solutions to deepen their digital capabilities, drive digital transformation, and build business resilience for growth in a digital economy.

The OCRM and ISM are sector-specific integrated solutions which help SMEs unify various business functions, enabling seamless information flow across their operations to better facilitate operations and enable data analytics and insights. 

Moreover, the solutions will be assessed for their suitability for SMEs’ adoption before they are scaled up through relevant support such as the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG). This will enable more SMEs to benefit when the successfully piloted solutions are pre-approved by IMDA for mass adoption.

Leong Der Yao, assistant chief executive for sectoral transformation group at IMDA, said, “As SMEs grow their businesses and intensify their adoption of digital solutions, the need for seamless integration becomes an important consideration. The OCRM and ISM solutions, curated with shortlisted solution partners, are integral to the broader DEB strategy to empower SMEs to embrace integrated digital solutions. By leveraging these integrated solutions, SMEs are able to streamline operations, elevate their capabilities, and remain competitive in today’s rapidly evolving market landscapes.”

The OCRM solution category is launched by IMDA in collaboration with Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG). It helps retailers to deliver a unified customer experience across these customer engagement touchpoints, such as physical retail outlets, e-marketplaces and online channels, while at the same time, enables an integrated operations across their back-end functions, such as inventory management and customer relationship management.

Singapore – Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Amazon have launched a strategic partnership as part of Singapore’s Digital for Life initiative. The partnership aims to improve Singaporeans’ essential digital skills, focusing on areas such as safe online shopping and Gen AI. Community workshops will be organised to deliver these educational initiatives, led by corporate volunteers from Amazon.sg, Amazon Payments, and AWS, with support from IMDA. 

Amazon and IMDA have partnered to co-curate community workshops, building on IMDA’s Digital Skills for Life (DSL) competencies, which include “Transact Online” and “Be Safe, Smart, and Kind Online” content. The goal of these workshops is to teach Singaporeans of all ages—from young children to elderly people—safe and secure internet payment methods.

In addition to community workshops on secure online buying and transactions, Amazon Web Services (AWS) will conduct workshops as part of the Digital for Life campaign in conjunction with IMDA. These workshops seek to educate Singaporeans about generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) and emerging technologies, emphasising their practical applications and advocating responsible use. 

The first AWS community workshop on generative AI was held in June 2024 with Singapore’s National Library Board, teaching attendees spanning from primary school students to seniors how to apply AI models to construct an application. These efforts support the AWS AI Spring Communities program, which focuses on AI-powered community development and is part of AWS’s recently announced flagship program, AWS AI Spring Singapore. AWS AI Spring will teach 5,000 people in AI capabilities annually from 2024 to 2026. 

Amazon has donated S$100,000 to the Digital for Life Fund to pursue the movement’s goals. The Singapore Government will match this donation dollar for dollar to promote digital literacy and wellbeing, as well as digital technology and inclusion efforts for vulnerable populations.

In line with the Amazon and IMDA partnership, Amazon and IMDA’s engagement comes after Amazon.sg received the highest possible grade for the third consecutive year in April 2024 in Singapore’s E-Commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings (TSR). Amazon Singapore has just joined the newly created Global Anti-Scam Alliance’s Singapore chapter as Vice-Chair, collaborating across industries to safeguard Singaporean consumers from criminal actors. 

Amazon aims for a world where people can live confidently and without worrying about becoming victims of scams that may be created by working with governments and businesses from all around the world. Amazon is keen to collaborate with others in order to map out a path to accomplish this goal. 

According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), frauds and cybercrime remain a big threat. In their 2023 brief, SPF noted that the number of scam and cybercrime cases climbed by 49.6% from the previous year. The survey also found that 73.0% of scam victims were teenagers, young people, and adults under the age of 50, emphasising the significance of teaching these demographics on how to protect themselves from bad actors and learn about safe online purchasing and new technologies. 

Speaking about the partnership, Doreen Tan, assistant chief executive (strategic planning and digital readiness) of IMDA, said, “As the digital space evolves, we recognise the importance of equipping Singaporeans with the tools and skills to stay safe online. Our collaboration with Amazon builds on IMDA’s Digital Skills for Life competencies, which cover learning to transact securely and being savvy and kind online. We welcome more partners to join us in the Digital for Life movement, to build a more inclusive society where no one is left behind and everyone can enjoy the benefits of the digital age.” 

Meanwhile, Josen George, general manager, Amazon APAC, stated, “Widespread education and collective action are critical armors in our fight against scams. As technology advances, bad actors will continue to find new ways to take advantage of communities. We must strive to be a few steps ahead of them by working together, sharing our knowledge, and creating a safe environment for day-to-day activities online. Amazon – including teams from Amazon.sg, Amazon Payments and AWS, is proud to work closely with IMDA to further educate Singaporeans about safe online shopping and safe transactions using digital payment methods such as PayNow, as well as sharing the benefits and responsible use of new technologies such as Gen AI. Safety is the top priority in everything we do at Amazon.” 

Singapore – The Minister for Communications and Information has named Russell Tham, Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd’s head of emerging technologies, as chairman of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Board. His appointment will start on March 15. Tham succeeds Chan Yeng Kit, who is stepping down as Chairman of the IMDA Board after nine years. 

Tham provides plenty of expertise to IMDA, having served on the board since October 1, 2020. In addition, he has served as chairperson of IMDA’s Technology Sub-Committee since April 1, 2023. Tham has used his experience to advise IMDA on developing digital technologies, facilitate their integration into business operations, and assess potential policy implications. 

Chan, who also held the office of Permanent Secretary (Health), was the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) from January 2005 to November 2007 and permanent secretary (Information, Communications, and the Arts) from January 2008 to November 2012. In November 2015, he became chairman of the IDA Board. 

Chan led the arrangement for the merger of IDA and the Media Development Authority (MDA) to become IMDA in 2016, and has since served as IMDA’s chairman of the board. 

Singapore – The AI Verify Foundation (AIVF) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in Singapore have developed a draft model AI governance framework for generative AI. This framework expands on the existing model governance framework that covers traditional AI, last updated in 2020.

For both entities, this proposed framework aims to facilitate international conversations among policymakers, industry, and the research community, to enable trusted development globally.

“Generative AI has significant transformative potential – above and beyond what Traditional AI has been able to achieve. This also comes with risks. While it remains a dynamically developing space, there is growing global consensus that consistent principles are needed to create a trusted environment – one that enables end-users to use AI confidently and safely, while allowing space for cutting-edge innovation,” both parties said in a press statement.

The core elements for the framework are based on the principles that decisions made by AI should be explainable, transparent, and fair. Beyond principles, it offers practical suggestions that model developers and policymakers can apply as initial steps.

Lastly, the proposed model governance framework for generative AI takes this one step further by covering the latest developments in generative AI. This in turn will inform Singapore’s next steps, as the country adopt a practical approach to maximise both trust and innovation.

Singapore – As part of its anti-scam measures, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has partnered with telcos Singtel, M1, StarHub, and SIMBA to allow mobile subscribers in Singapore to block calls from international numbers.

Starting January 5 onwards, Singaporean mobile users will have the option to subscribe to call blocking services offered by Singtel, M1, StarHub, and SIMBA. By opting in, all calls made from international numbers will automatically be blocked. On the other hand, calls made from Singapore numbers, including those using overseas roaming, will be received as per normal.

Subscribers using the service can also enable and disable the international number blocking option based on their needs, such as if they’re expecting international calls or when they’re travelling overseas.

This new service is part of IMDA’s multi-layered measures for fighting scammers, including those operating from overseas. IMDA has been working with several telcos to solve Singapore’s problem with international scam calls and messages.

Since 2023, the telcos have recorded more than 300 million scam calls, and approximately one in every four incoming calls from international numbers has been blocked for this period.

IMDA is also working with telcos on plans to extend the service by blocking SMS from international numbers as well.

In a press release, IMDA stated, “Combatting scams is a whole-of-society effort, and the public should continue to remain vigilant. The public should continue to exercise caution when receiving calls and SMS as scammers’ tactics continue to evolve. Scammers will continue to change their methods and tactics, and there is no foolproof measure even as we continue to monitor and implement additional safeguards.”

The statement continued, “IMDA will continue to work with other stakeholders in the fight against scams. A discerning public is the key in this fight, where consumers are individually alert and raise collective awareness by sharing scam prevention tips with friends and loved ones.”

Singapore – Singapore is set to retire its 3G services across its local telcos by July 31, 2024. According to the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), all three local telcos providing 3G–namely Singtel, StarHub and M1–will all retire their 3G services and make way for the rapid growth of 5G connectivity.

All three telcos aforementioned have released their separate statements detailing the 3G shutdown, and also offering users ways and means to properly move towards 5G connectivity.

3G connectivity was first introduced in the country 20 years ago, and was followed with 4G developments in the mid-2010s and 5G in 2022.

“Overall, close to 99% of Singapore’s mobile subscribers are currently on 4G/5G. As of April 2023, the 3G subscriber base makes up approximately 1% of the total mobile subscriptions and it is on the decline,” IMDA stated.

With Singapore retiring its 3G services, IMDA expects that more spectrum can be released for investment in 5G to provide a better experience for users and support enterprises undergoing digital transformation.

In addition, retailers will also no longer be able to sell 3G mobile phones and/or 4G models requiring 3G for voice calls. This will take effect from 1 February 2024.

“This one-year transition period is given to allow mobile network operators (MNOs) to adequately engage and migrate their remaining 3G subscribers before retiring their 3G services. 3G subscribers should reach out to their respective MNOs for more information and assistance,” IMDA concluded.

Singapore – The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has issued the ‘Code of Practice for Online Safety’, which mitigates risk of harmful social media content to Singaporeans, especially to children. In addition, the new code has also instructed platforms to not serve advertisements to accounts owned by children.

The categories of harmful content covered by the code are: sexual content, violent content, suicide and self-harm content, cyberbullying content, content endangering public health, and content facilitating vice and organised crime.

Through the new safety code, IMDA has ordered online platforms to apply age-appropriate policies to accounts belonging to children, including having a set of community guidelines appropriate for children, content moderation, and online safety information that children can easily understand. 

Moreover, local users will be empowered with tools to manage their own safety. These may include tools to hide harmful content and unwanted interactions, limit location sharing and the visibility of their accounts from other users.

“Tackling the threat of harmful online content is a global issue which requires a whole-of-society effort. The Singapore Government has strengthened our regulatory framework and will continue its efforts in ensuring that regulatory and public education measures can address the growing range of harmful online content and protect Singapore users against online harms. IMDA will continue to work closely with SMSs to enhance Singapore’s Online Safety,” IMDA said in a statement.

Singapore – In the bid to further scam-proof all customer communications through SMS, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singapore’s watchdog for information and communications, has decided to finally make the registration of Sender IDs for SMS mandatory for organisations. 

A pilot SMS Sender ID Registry was first initiated in August 2021, however, with the surge in scams using SMS, IMDA accelerated the setting up of the Singapore SMS Sender ID Registry or SSIR in March this year, where SMS that spoofed or made use of registered IDs on the SSIR were blocked upfront, reducing the risk of scams.

The IMDA said that while SSIR has had an impact, in particular, SMS scam cases declining threefold, it remains to be a voluntary system, and thus concerning the board that this remains to give way for risks of spoofed SMS towards the public. 

“To build stronger scam prevention capabilities, we intend to make SSIR registration a requirement for organisations that use Sender IDs (i.e., a full registration regime). Therefore, only registered Sender IDs will be allowed. All other non-registered Sender IDs will be blocked as a default. This further safeguards SMS as a communication channel,” said IMDA in its official statement. 

Moving forward with the implementation, merchants and organisations that use SMS Sender IDs must register with the SSIR using their Unique Identity Number (UEN), and aggregators who wish to handle SMS with Sender IDs must participate in the SSIR and verify merchants/organisations sign-ups through their UENs

The IMDA said that the said requirements will provide better assurance that only bonafide merchants are using Sender IDs. As a start, the proposed solutions can detect malicious links within the SMS that lead to scam websites; and telcos can then develop solutions to identify patterns of suspicious scam messages and filter them accordingly.

The transition period for orgs will start from October 2022, before the full SSIR registration requirement commences in end-2022.

It would be remembered that at the beginning of the year, regulators in Singapore, particularly its financial authorities MAS and ABS, were urged to encourage banks to scrap clickable links in customer emails and SMS. This followed the OCBC catastrophe in Singapore wherein a phishing scam had nearly 500 customers losing their money amounting to at least S$8.5m.

Singapore – Ride-hailing platform Grab has signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) with Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Digital Industry Singapore (DISG) to support the development of Singapore’s tech ecosystem. 

The signed MOI will see Grab working with IMDA and DISG to grow its core product and engineering teams’ capabilities through the support of talent development programs like the TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA), seeking to enhance professionals’ technical skills and to provide hands-on training opportunities to individuals in the tech sector.

Meanwhile, Grab will also be creating new job opportunities, hiring around 350 employees in Singapore this year. This move covers the expansion of products and services to support the digitalization of micro SMEs, the delivery of digital financial services across Southeast Asia, as well as the development of the upcoming ‘digibank’, which will be managed by a Grab-Singtel consortium.

New job opportunities will come from areas of AI, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Software Engineering, as well as Product Management and Design. Some of the new hires will be involved in projects that aim to develop merchants’ products, and improve the user experience of the merchant app, which will be an all-in-one solution featuring modularized Grab services to select from.

A majority of the new hires, on the other hand, will be involved in powering Grab’s innovation engine that uses deep tech to build and enhance services for its users. Besides tech roles, Grab will also be offering employment opportunities in areas such as finance, operations, legal, public affairs, and business development. 

Co-founder of Grab Tan Hooi-Ling commented that despite the challenges brought forth by COVID-19, the tech industry continues to hold promise for new and renewed opportunities for talent. 

“As a Singapore-based tech company, Grab fully supports the development of the tech ecosystem here. We are building products that positively impact millions across Southeast Asia, and we want to continue deepening our R&D capabilities and push the boundaries of innovation, right here at our strategic base,” said Ling.

Meanwhile, Lew Chuen Hong, chief executive of IMDA, said that to secure a digital future, Singapore must be the place where companies choose to build unique digital products that cater for global markets.

“We are pleased to partner Grab, to strengthen Singapore’s tech ecosystem in these two key areas – to build our local talent in product development, and grow Singapore as the base for high-end R&D in tech,” Hong added.

Vice President and Head of DISG Ang Chin Tah also commented, “We are excited that industry leaders like Grab are stepping up to deepen their R&D activities here while providing more job and skills development opportunities for Singaporeans. Together, we will continue to build a vibrant and sustainable tech ecosystem to drive innovation and capture growth opportunities.”