Singapore govt plans to stop masking NRIC numbers, apologises for ACRA publishing details

The Singapore government said Saturday (Dec 14) that it intends to change the practice of masking National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) numbers, after privacy concerns were raised over the new Bizfile portal showing people's details for free in its search results. The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) said in response to media queries that the government had planned to make this change "only after explaining the issue and preparing the ground". However, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)'s new Bizfile portal had a search function that produced people's names and full NRIC numbers. This new portal was launched on Dec 9, before the government had announced its plans. "We acknowledge that coordination could have been better so that ACRA’s move would not have run ahead of the government’s intent," said MDDI in its statement. "We apologise for this mistake and for causing anxiety to the public." Read more: https://cna.asia/3ZzmnAb