Key Content: Security impact on countries and individuals
security and vulnerability
management of trade-offs
cyber security challenges
transnational terrorism
Globalization has benefited people in various ways, but the impacts involve trade-offs and tensions especially in terms of the security around the world.
Hence, there is a need for different groups of people to come together and play a part in maintaining the security and balancing trade-offs and tensions.
Internal and external challenges that include political, economic and environmental issues.
Due to globalization, these challenges are transnational and extend beyond a country’s boundaries.
CYBERSECURITY CONCERNS
Advancements in technology have led to growth of online computer networks. Easy to assess information.
Cybercriminals can use malware to infect computer networks which make confidential info vulnerable.
They remain anonymous, making it tough for authorities to track them down.
They attack government websites to steal private information about the country.
Strengthen cyber security through working with relevant companies
e.g. Cyber Watch Centre, increasing pool of security experts, collaboration between countries e.g. Asia Pacific Computer Emergency Response Team (APCERT) and raising individual awareness and staying vigilant.
Case Study: Personal Data Protection Act
Since 2013, Singapore’s PDPA provides a baseline standard of protection for personal data in Singapore
The PDPA recognises both the need to protect individuals’ personal data and the need of organisations to collect, use or disclose personal data for legitimate and reasonable purposes.
Organisations are required to comply with the various data protection obligations if they undertake activities relating to the collection, use or disclosure of personal data
A data protection regime is necessary to safeguard personal data from misuse and to maintain individuals’ trust in organisations that manage their data.
By regulating the flow of personal data among organisations, the PDPA also aims to strengthen Singapore’s position as a trusted hub for businesses.
Case Study: ScamShield by GovTech
ScamShield, a new mobile app, has been launched to fight scam messages and calls which plague mobile phone users. Developed by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), in collaboration with Open Government Products (OGP)
Scammers often initiate contact with potential scam victims through phone calls or Short Message Services (SMSes).
ScamShield actively works in the background to filter scam messages and calls from numbers used in illegal activities to prevent scammers from contacting you
Only incoming SMSes from unknown contacts go through ScamShield. Scam messages are filtered and sent into the phone's junk folder. Only identified scam messages and numbers will be blocked. Calls from these blocked numbers will not be shown to ScamShield users.
Case Study: SingCERT (Singapore computer emergency response team)
The Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (SingCERT) responds to cybersecurity incidents for its Singapore constituents.
It was set up to facilitate the detection, resolution and prevention of cybersecurity related incidents on the Internet.
It publishes alerts to provide the public with timely information about security issues, vulnerabilities, and exploits, as well as advisories to furnish Singapore with Information on high-impact cybersecurity activity affecting Singapore
Cyber terrorism poses a threat to Singapore’s national security as important infrastructure can be compromised, thereby threatening the safety of its citizens.
With a lot of Singapore’s infrastructure being automated and run remotely by computerized systems.
E.g. Our NEWater treatment plants are automated and run by computers which can be compromised through a cyberattack.
Should cyber criminals be able to compromise the system by shutting it down or manipulating it so that certain processes are not carried out and water is not treated properly, then the health and safety of Singapore’s inhabitants will be severely affected.
Therefore, it is important to take a tough stance so as to deter them from compromising the security of Singapore and safety of Singaporeans.
Such cyber-attacks can also cause widespread crisis and make the country more vulnerable to further attacks
Intensified due to technological advances of globalization – improve speed of communication, travel and trade, thus making it easier to coordinate attacks.
Use internet to spread violent beliefs and propaganda
Self-radicalization is a growing threat (Individuals who are inspired by terrorist groups and willing to commit to extreme acts)
Transnational terrorism poses a threat to Singapore’s nation security as it can compromise the economy of Singapore, thereby threatening the livelihood of Singaporeans. Infrastructure can be destroyed through acts of violence
For example, the Indonesian government recently arrested a group of Indonesians, who were part of a terrorist group, that were allegedly plotting to launch rockets from Batam at Singapore’s Marina Bay area.
Had the terrorists succeed, the destruction of infrastructure would have cost the Singapore government millions of dollars to rebuild.
Furthermore, with the Marina Bay area being the center of economic activity, the destruction of the area will result in a great loss of economic activity.
Companies will withdraw from the country due to the safety of their employees being compromised. Investors will also not want to put in money to build a business in a country which is not safe and cannot guarantee returns.
This will result in less economic activity which will cause an economic downturn, and can result in Singaporeans losing their jobs or not being able to find work
Case Study: Self- Radicalization as the domestic threat to Singapore
In Singapore, the terrorism threat stems primarily from self-radicalised individuals who are influenced by violent extremist materials online.
Since 2015, 54 individuals have been dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for terrorism-related conduct.
The trend of self-radicalisation has persisted over the past two years. Of the 16 individuals issued with terrorism-related ISA orders from January 2019 to date, 14 were self-radicalised, comprising: 10 Singaporeans and four foreigners.
Of the 14 self-radicalised individuals dealt with since 2019, 12 were ISIS supporters and/or primarily inspired by the Syrian conflict. Most of them remained staunchly supportive of ISIS even with the group’s territorial losses and eventual military defeat.
Since late 2013, at least four radicalised Singaporeans have travelled to Syria/Iraq and are believed to have participated in the armed conflict there.
For the few individuals whose support for ISIS waned over time, the Syrian conflict continued to hold strong appeal for them and they were prepared to join other terrorist groups in the conflict zone.
Sheik Heikel bin Khalid Bafana (issued with an OD in March 2019) who was actively involved in the civil war in Yemen and had also worked for a foreign power as a paid agent while in Yemen
Rasidah binte Mazlan (issued with a RO in March 2019) who was found to be in contact with multiple foreign entities suspected of involvement in terrorism-related activities
In the case of Bangladeshi national Ahmed Faysal (detained in November 2020), he initially supported ISIS, but shifted his support to another terrorist group, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, which operates in the Syria/Iraq conflict zone.
Notwithstanding the draw of the Syrian conflict and ISIS violent ideology, Singapore is not immune to other forms of extremist ideologies and influences.
December 2020 - first self-radicalisation case who was inspired by far-right extremist ideology. A 16-year-old Singaporean youth was inspired by the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shooter Tarrant and wanted to emulate Tarrant’s attack.
In March 2021, 20-year-old Singaporean Amirull bin Ali (Amirull) became the first self-radicalised individual detained under the ISA who was primarily driven by the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Preventive measures: deter terrorists and prevent loss of lives and destruction of property. Includes border controls – sea, land and air checkpoints, No-Fly list in USA - restricts air travel of suspected terrorists, and collaboration between countries- track terrorist groups and receive updates on latest news worldwide.
E.g. Interpol’s Fusion Task Force which works with international organisations to monitor suspicious activities
In the case of Singapore, these measures include strict border controls and collaboration between countries.
The use of biometric technology in the immigration and clearance process improves the immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) ability to prevent terrorists from entering Singapore.
ICA also works to prevent explosives and weapons from entering the borders.
Singapore also works with other countries to fight against transnational terrorism
e.g. Singapore exchanges best practices and cooperates with countries to enhance counterterrorism knowledge and strategies.
These measures can deter terrorists and help prevent loss of lives, destruction of property and disruption to the economy and society and are hence important in managing acts of transnational terrorism.
Case Study: SGSecure - Singapore’s community response to the threat of terrorism
It is a movement to build the resilience of our community and a call to action to everyone to safeguard Singapore and our way of life.
Terrorist attacks can have a crippling effect on societies that extends beyond the physical devastation. SGSecure focuses on three core actions that every one of us can do in the fight against terrorism:
Staying Alert to prevent a terrorist attack and to keep yourself safe in the event of an attack
Staying United to help one another, especially after an attack
Staying Strong to safeguard our social fabric and bounce back as one people
Users may report suspicious activity or behaviour that could suggest a terrorist threat to Singapore
While there has been no credible or specific intelligence of an attack being planned against Singapore, it is important to be prepared and know how to protect yourself if the need arises. The app provides advice on how to stay safe in various different circumstances.
Citizens may also volunteer to be a SGSecure Responder to help somebody in distress, whenever they can
Protective measures: surveillance at public places where there are a lot of people and increase in officer patrols
However, this may be an intrusion or loss of privacy.
e.g. detention of suspects without trials – easier to arrest.
Case Study: ISA - Allow the detention of suspects without trials
The Internal Security Act (ISA) of Singapore (Cap. 143, 1985 Rev. Ed.) is a statute that grants the executive power to enforce preventive detention, prevent subversion, suppress organized violence against persons and property, and do other things incidental to the internal security of Singapore.
Before a person can be detained under the ISA by the Minister for Home Affairs, the President must be satisfied that such detention is necessary for the purposes of national security or public order.
Responsive measures: emergency preparedness exercises such as e.g. Exercise Heartbeat is held annually which better prepares people to deal with a range of security threats.
Singapore also collaborates with other countries in terms of research and development efforts in explosives and participating in exercises and missions with other countries to gain more knowledge and experience.
Responsive measures ensure that Singapore is prepared to deal with damages or harm brought about by transnational acts of terrorism should they occur.
E.g. the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force have frequent exercises to test their contingency plans for acts of terrorism.
Emergency preparedness exercises are held across the country in different heartlands for the Home Team agencies to practice their contingency strategies as well as engage the public in being ready for such attacks.
Singapore also collaborates with other countries by exchanging knowledge on chemical, biological, radiological and explosive (CBRE) so that capabilities in responding to such attacks are improved.
Responsive measures are important in helping the country recover quickly and with minimal damages to lives should an attack of transnational terrorism strikes.
Singaporeans will be better equipped with skills and knowledge about what to do during an attack, hence effectively managing terrorism, thus ensuring that Singapore stays united and work towards reducing the negative impact of terrorist threats.
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