Interpretation of this Part
53. In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires — “disclose”, in relation to identifying information that is a personal identifier, includes providing access to the identifying information; “identifying information” means — ( a ) any personal identifier; ( b ) any meaningful identifier derived from any personal identifier; ( c ) any record of a result of analysing any personal identifier or meaningful identifier derived from any personal identifier; or ( d ) any other information, derived from any personal identifier or meaningful identifier derived from any personal identifier, or from any record of a kind mentioned in paragraph ( c ), that could be used to discover a particular person’s identity or to get information about a particular person.
Methods and technologies for travel documents
54. —(1) The Minister may approve the methods and technologies (including biometric technologies) to be used by the Controller — ( a ) for the purposes of confirming the validity of evidence of the identity of an applicant for a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document or to whom a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document has been issued; ( b ) for the purposes of issuing biometric passports and travel documents under this Act; or ( c ) for performing other functions in connection with this Act. (2) Subsection (1) does not imply that methods or technologies not approved cannot be used for performing functions in connection with this Act.
—(1) The Minister may approve the methods and technologies (including biometric technologies) to be used by the Controller — ( a ) for the purposes of confirming the validity of evidence of the identity of an applicant for a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document or to whom a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document has been issued; ( b ) for the purposes of issuing biometric passports and travel documents under this Act; or ( c ) for performing other functions in connection with this Act.
(2) Subsection (1) does not imply that methods or technologies not approved cannot be used for performing functions in connection with this Act.
Authorising disclosure of or access to identifying information
55. —(1) The Minister may, in writing, authorise a specified person, or any person included in a specified class of persons — ( a ) to access identifying information of the kind specified in the Minister’s authorisation; or ( b ) to disclose, on written request, identifying information of the kind specified in the Minister’s authorisation, to another specified person, or another person included in a specified class of persons, in the Minister’s authorisation, for the purpose or purposes specified in the Minister’s authorisation. (2) The Minister must specify in an authorisation under this section, as the purpose or purposes for which access or disclosure is authorised, one or more of the following purposes, and no other: ( a ) assisting in the identification of, and authenticating the identity of, any applicant for or holder of a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document; ( b ) facilitating or otherwise assisting the international travel of a person to whom a Singapore travel document has been issued; ( c ) enforcement of the criminal law, including investigating or prosecuting a person for an offence against any written law; ( d ) combating document and identity fraud in immigration matters; ( e ) administering or managing the storage of identifying information; ( f ) modifying identifying information to enable it to be matched with other identifying information, or in order to correct errors or ensure compliance with appropriate standards; ( g ) identifying persons who are of national security concern, or who are associated with activities of a criminal nature and whose detention or supervision may be necessary in the interests of public safety, peace and good order; ( h ) any other purpose the disclosure of which is required or authorised by or under written law; ( i ) making decisions under this Act or the Immigration Act 1959 or under the regulations made under either Act. (3) For the purposes of subsection (1)( b ), the specified person or specified class of persons to whom identifying information may be disclosed may include a police force, a law enforcement body or a border control body of a foreign country.
—(1) The Minister may, in writing, authorise a specified person, or any person included in a specified class of persons — ( a ) to access identifying information of the kind specified in the Minister’s authorisation; or ( b ) to disclose, on written request, identifying information of the kind specified in the Minister’s authorisation, to another specified person, or another person included in a specified class of persons, in the Minister’s authorisation, for the purpose or purposes specified in the Minister’s authorisation.
(2) The Minister must specify in an authorisation under this section, as the purpose or purposes for which access or disclosure is authorised, one or more of the following purposes, and no other: ( a ) assisting in the identification of, and authenticating the identity of, any applicant for or holder of a Singapore passport or a Singapore travel document; ( b ) facilitating or otherwise assisting the international travel of a person to whom a Singapore travel document has been issued; ( c ) enforcement of the criminal law, including investigating or prosecuting a person for an offence against any written law; ( d ) combating document and identity fraud in immigration matters; ( e ) administering or managing the storage of identifying information; ( f ) modifying identifying information to enable it to be matched with other identifying information, or in order to correct errors or ensure compliance with appropriate standards; ( g ) identifying persons who are of national security concern, or who are associated with activities of a criminal nature and whose detention or supervision may be necessary in the interests of public safety, peace and good order; ( h ) any other purpose the disclosure of which is required or authorised by or under written law; ( i ) making decisions under this Act or the Immigration Act 1959 or under the regulations made under either Act.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1)( b ), the specified person or specified class of persons to whom identifying information may be disclosed may include a police force, a law enforcement body or a border control body of a foreign country.
Accessing or disclosing identifying information
56. —(1) If a person accesses identifying information, and the person — ( a ) is not authorised under section 55 to access any identifying information; or ( b ) is not authorised under section 55 to access the identifying information for the purpose for which the person accessed it, the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both. (2) If a person’s conduct causes disclosure of identifying information, and the disclosure is not a disclosure that is for any of the purposes specified in section 55(2), the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
—(1) If a person accesses identifying information, and the person — ( a ) is not authorised under section 55 to access any identifying information; or ( b ) is not authorised under section 55 to access the identifying information for the purpose for which the person accessed it, the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
(2) If a person’s conduct causes disclosure of identifying information, and the disclosure is not a disclosure that is for any of the purposes specified in section 55(2), the person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
