Parliament shorts: Data sought in criminal probes

Parliament shorts: Data sought in criminal probes

SINGAPORE - Between 2010 and 2012, Singapore law enforcement agencies made about 600 requests for information a year from Google, Facebook and Microsoft.

In a written reply to Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied GRC), Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean said the requests to the three online giants were specifically for the purpose of investigating criminal matters.

Most concerned Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act offences, while the rest were for offences like corruption, terrorist threats, cheating, theft, gambling and vice, said Mr Teo.

The requests from 2010 to 2012 were all for non-content data, such as account-related information and login details. However, Mr Teo said the law permits the agencies to ask for content data, if needed to investigate offences. The requests, which are no different from those made to organisations and persons in the course of investigations, follow due process, he said.


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