The Singaporean government has announced significant revisions to its digital policies to combat increasing threats such as deep fakes, online scams, and disruptions to data center operations.

During a speech on Tuesday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong introduced the latest iteration of the Smart Nation digital strategy, which is poised to further improve the country’s digital infrastructure.

A core element of the new strategy involves establishing an agency specifically tasked with tackling cyberbullying and online sexual harassment.

Meanwhile, Wong attributed the rising prevalence of deep fakes to advancements in generative AI. The government will mandate that certain social media platforms impose restrictions to prevent the misuse of altered digital content.

These initiatives are part of an enhanced Smart Nation strategy first introduced in 2014.

Wong said Singapore has made significant strides in establishing a robust digital infrastructure, now ranking as one of the largest data center hubs in the region.

Wong also announced that legislative measures will be introduced next year to reinforce the resilience and security of vital digital infrastructures and services. These measures aim to mitigate various security risks, extending beyond cybersecurity to encompass technical misconfigurations and physical hazards.