MDDI Sounded like It Blamed Singaporeans for Wanting Privacy

  • Posted byby ChinHan

Recently, Singaporeans found out that ACRA reveals their full name and NRIC number. This applies to anyone in its database of business owners. Naturally, people became very concerned about the lack of privacy. Instead of allaying our concerns, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) posted a lousy response.

It made it sound like Singaporean’s fault

    MDDI brushed aside the matter by saying that NRIC is used in the same way as our names anyway. It then conveniently announced that the Government was planning to make changes – to disclose full NRICs soon. The tone of its statement made Singaporeans look over-sensitive for not wanting to disclose our personal details. It sounded like it was blaming us for being too uptight or having the wrong mindset.

    Conveniently again, it framed its mistake in a positive way. It claimed that people could see NRICs because ACRA moved too quickly, before the Government could announce the change. So it was not a mistake. It was because they were too fast.

    It flipped prata

    A few years ago, the MDDI warned everyone not to disclose our NRICs as it could be used to unlock personal information. It even had guidelines teaching Singaporeans when to reveal our IC numbers. Now, they are the ones telling us that it is no big deal and there is actually no need to hide them. If MDDI had plans to change its policy, it should consult citizens and wait for everyone to be on board before enacting it. Doing a sudden, forced U-turn and then blaming it on Singaporeans is irresponsible and distasteful.

    It didn’t protect what it was supposed to protect

    The MDDI is supposed to be all about data protection. It had one job. But now, it is saying that this is not its job. The way it responded showed blatant disregard for Singaporean’s privacy or risk to scams. It does not care about protecting Singaporeans, e.g. against identity theft. Look at the man who had no money in Japan because someone used his name and NRIC to lock his banks. Can the MDDI prevent such incidents?

    MDDI has stringent rules for private companies when it comes to obtaining customer’s data. It is only right for it to be equally strict in safeguarding Singaporeans’ privacy in the public sector. There must be no exception.