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STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, AT THE SIDE EVENT ON IM(PACT) FOR THE FUTURE: PROTECTING PEOPLE AND PLANET AND TURBOCHARGING THE 2030 AGENDA IN THE DIGITAL AGE, AT THE 79TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, 16 OCTOBER 2024

16 October 2024

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Good Afternoon


Ladies and Gentlemen

1 Let me start by thanking the UNODC for organising this very important event.  We, in Singapore, appreciate very much the leadership of the UNODC, and in particular the evidence-based approach adopted by the UNODC. This is a very important approach on a range of issues, and I welcome that very much.


2 Second, I also welcome this initiative by the UNODC, together with our other friends, including from the United Arab Emirates for organising this side event. It is very timely, coming as it does, soon after the adoption of the Global Digital Compact (GDC), which was part of the Pact for the Future. In the GDC, we discussed about how we can collectively bridge the digital divide. The paradox is that as we bridge the digital divide, we will also be creating a greater surface of digital vulnerability, and we will also be giving opportunities for transnational crime, which will make all our citizens vulnerable, and many of them will also become victims. This will have a negative impact, not only on our individual countries and our regions, but also our planet. I welcome very much the study just presented on environmental crimes and the different criminalisation approaches. It is a serious subject matter for reflection and hopefully, action as well.


Global Crime Landscape

3 The global crime landscape is evolving rapidly.


4 Digital technology and digital innovation have brought about a lot of benefits to our population. But it is also a double-edged sword because it gives criminals an opportunity to exploit these technologies.


  1. The scale and complexity of cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled crime have grown exponentially. 

  2. In 2023, cyber-enabled fraud or scams led to losses of over US$1 trillion.[1] Imagine that money being channelled for the purpose of accelerating sustainable development, which unfortunately is now going to criminals. 

  3. The rise of artificial intelligence has also given rise to a new range of cyber threats, especially “deepfakes”. In the Asia-Pacific region, the number of deepfake-related cases have increased by ten times between 2022 and 2023.[2]


5 For a small, open and digitally-connected economy like Singapore, the threat of cyber-enabled crime is a very serious one that we are facing. I would like to share with you some statistics.

6 In the first half of 2024, more than 26,000 scam cases were reported in Singapore, which resulted in victim losses of approximately US$300 million. Most of these cases involved self-effected transfers, where unsuspecting victims willingly transferred their money, not knowing who was on the other side of the computer or mobile phones. Often, these scammers operate from overseas and manipulate victims into directly performing the monetary transactions.

 

Legislation to Deal with Online Harm


7 Responding to these challenges require us to implement legislation that is fit for purpose, and that is evidence-based. 


8 In 2023, Singapore enacted the Online Criminal Harms Act (or OCHA). It empowers authorities to direct online service providers to prevent accounts or content that allow for crimes, including scams, and we try to ensure that they do not reach Singapore users.

9 Since this legislation was operationalised this year, our authorities indicate that they have been able to disrupt more than 22,000 online criminal activities.[3] That also resulted in a lot of savings for victims or potential victims.

 

Use of Technologies to Improve Safety and Security Outcomes

 

10 Besides legislation, we also need to use technology better to combat transnational organised crime and strengthen the criminal justice system. Please allow me to highlight three examples.

ScamShield


11 First, we have leveraged technology to protect mobile phone users from online scams.


12 Since November 2020, we have an app known as ScamShield. This app has blocked more than 180,000 phone numbers suspected to be used for scams. We have also enhanced the app to include a range of anti-scam resources, including a 24/7 helpline. Because we are all connected in Singapore, and we take this threat seriously.

Border Security

13 Second, we have also leveraged technology to strengthen border security and digitalise border clearance. Given that we are an important transit country and city with many people coming in and going out, that also means that potential fraudsters could come in quite easily and leave easily and quickly too.


14 Our Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has put in place what is called a New Clearance Concept that looks at pre-arrival risk assessment and is able to detect counterfeit travel documents using A.I.

Rehabilitation


15 Third, we have harnessed technology in the rehabilitation of offenders, which plays an important role in our crime prevention efforts. We are very heartened that our presentation on reducing reoffending at the recent 33rd CCPCJ was very well-received by our friends and partners.


16 One example I wanted to share is this mobile application known as the Self-Help and Rehabilitation E-Application (or SHARE). It was designed to allow Prison officers to track offenders’ rehabilitation progress, and we help those who have offended to be reintegrated into society.


International Efforts


17 International partnership and cooperation are very important for us. Global platforms like the CCPCJ and the 12th Conference of the Parties in Vienna which is ongoing, are important platforms to discuss best practices and share our experiences in dealing with transnational crime and challenges relating to the adoption of new technologies. We are happy to have the opportunity to share our experiences and learn from other countries.


Conclusion

18 Thank you for your attention. We would like to express our appreciation for UNODC and our friends around the room for their initiative and leadership in this very important area.


[1] The Global State of Scams – 2023. Global Anti-Scam Alliance. 2023.  

[2] Identity Fraud Report. Sumsub Research. 2023.

[3] Singapore Police Force. 2024.

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