Singapore: Moves to Strengthen Public Sector Data-Sharing Rules with New Amendments
Singapore has introduced House Bill 22/2025, a proposed update to the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018, aimed at tightening how government agencies share and manage information. The bill was tabled for its first reading on 5 November 2025.
What the Bill Does
The amendment seeks to ensure that information shared within the public sector—and between public agencies and approved external partners—is handled securely, transparently, and with clear oversight. Any sharing of government-held data with non-public sector parties would now require explicit ministerial approval, reinforcing accountability and strengthening national data governance practices.
Key Concepts
The bill formalizes important definitions, including:
Anonymized information – data that has been de-identified so individuals cannot be identified.
Existing terms such as data-sharing directions, use directions, and non-public sector persons remain aligned with current legislation.
What Changes Are Being Proposed
Public sector agencies may share, use, and, when permitted, re-identify information under ministerial direction.
New data-sharing and use directions allow government agencies to share information with each other and, with further authorization, with private sector organizations or individuals.
Section 6 of the current Act will be updated to state that these directions override common law confidentiality rules—except those related to legal privilege or contractual obligations.
Section 7 introduces new penalties for employees of private sector partners who misuse shared data, including fines of up to $5,000 or jail terms of up to two years.
Updates Across Other Laws
To keep regulations consistent, the bill also proposes related amendments to several other Acts, including:
Personal Data Protection Act 2012
Copyright Act 2021
Food Safety and Security Act 2025
Moneylenders Act 2008
Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025
These updates ensure terminology and processes remain aligned across Singapore’s legal framework.
When Will It Take Effect?
The amendments will take effect on a date to be announced by the Minister and published in the Government Gazette.
Official information was published here