Data Protection Trustmark elevated to Singapore Standard

With a more developed data protection ecosystem already in place, the next step is for more formal standards to be put in place, said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo.

She was speaking at the opening of the Personal Data Protection Week held at the Sands Convention and Expo Centre on Monday (Jul 7) where she announced the elevation of the Data Protection Trustmark (DPTM) to the Singapore Standard 714.

Prior to this, the trustmark did not have a Singapore Standard.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) worked with Enterprise Singapore and the Singapore Accreditation Council to elevate the DPTM to the Singapore Standard, Teo added.

The DPTM Singapore Standard provides organisations with clearer data protection requirements around critical areas such as third-party management and overseas transfers, said IMDA in a press statement.

It helps certified organisations to demonstrate their commitment to effective data protection, IMDA added.

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“Companies that demonstrate accountable data protection practices can now apply to be certified under this new standard, which will set the national benchmark for companies that want to demonstrate data protection excellence,” said Teo.

The theme for the Personal Data Protection Week this year is “Data Protection in a Changing World”, which acknowledges the significant changes in both our global operating environment and the world of technology, said the minister.

These “twin forces” have disrupted workplaces, homes and relationships with each other, she added.

“It is inevitable that we must adjust our practices, laws and even our broader social norms.”

Teo added that the importance of data in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) is as pertinent as ever, noting that generative AI models are built on vast amounts of data throughout its development life cycle.

“Given the criticality of data in the AI age, it should not be surprising that data has also become a limiting factor to continuing advancement,” she said.