Public agencies have 72 hours to decide to notify people affected by data breach under new data security rules

The updated Instruction Manual 8, which will take effect within the next year, follows recommendations aimed at sharpening existing data protection practices. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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SINGAPORE - Data protection rules governing the country's public sector will be harmonised with those for the private sector, in the first major revision to address longstanding criticisms that private companies were subject to stricter measures.

The seeming gap in the two sets of data protection measures became starker after a series of public-sector breaches that involve the sensitive data of patients and students.

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