350 people have asked for their contact tracing data to be deleted

People using SafeEntry and TraceTogether to enter HarbourFront Centre yesterday. While 350 people have asked for their contact tracing data to be erased from the Government's server in the last month, Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative
People using SafeEntry and TraceTogether to enter HarbourFront Centre yesterday. While 350 people have asked for their contact tracing data to be erased from the Government's server in the last month, Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative Vivian Balakrishnan said that in the same period, more than 390,000 have signed up to be part of the TraceTogether programme. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

In the last month, 350 people have asked for their contact tracing data to be erased from the Government's server, said Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative Vivian Balakrishnan, after it came to light that the police can obtain contact tracing data for criminal investigations.

But he added that in the same period, more than 390,000 have signed up to be part of the national contact tracing programme TraceTogether. So far, more than 80 per cent of the population have either downloaded the TraceTogether app or collected the token.

Dr Balakrishnan, who is also Foreign Minister, was speaking yesterday during the debate on the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Amendment) Bill to restrict the police's powers over data collected by the TraceTogether, SafeEntry and Bluepass programmes.

TraceTogether allows users to ask for their identification data to be deleted from the Government's server, unless they are confirmed Covid-19 cases.

For eligible requests, the Government will delete the user's contact number, identification details and random user ID from its server.

Dr Balakrishnan revealed the 350 figure to address concerns about public trust and participation in TraceTogether.

He added: "Every one of that 350 who has requested us to delete is a source of regret for me because at least 350 have, for a variety of reasons, decided to forgo the protection that TraceTogether offers them and their loved ones."

But the minister added that the over 390,000 who have joined the programme in the same period showed Singaporeans trust that the TraceTogether system is safe.

Hariz Baharudin

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 03, 2021, with the headline 350 people have asked for their contact tracing data to be deleted. Subscribe