Singapore has passed amendments to two Bills to clear the way for a new digital intelligence unit to be created as part of the country’s armed forces. The government has described the move as necessary amid an increase in “cyber intrusions” that threaten critical systems.
The first day recommended in March, a new digital and intelligence services (DIS) unit will be established as a fourth service under the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and responsible for countering online attacks. The DIS team will work alongside three other services – Army, Navy and Air Force – to enable the country’s defenses to function as a collective team.
Expected to be operational by the end of the year, the new unit will be headed by a chief of digital and intelligence services (CDI), along with three other service chiefs.
CDI will also be a member of the Armed Forces Council and hold the legal power, exercising its duties and powers to lead the DIS in times of conflict, said Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said in parliament.
Noting that the “battlefield” has expanded into the cyber realm, Ng said DIS needs to become a “formal military service arm” to protect Singapore’s critical infrastructure. “The digital domain – just like in the air, on land and at sea – has become a combat terrain that, if left unprotected, can compromise the security and sovereignty of any nation,” he said. which family.
He added that both state and non-state organizations recognize that they can use the digital domain to achieve their goals, especially terrorist cells. Whether recruiting vulnerable people, spreading propaganda, providing funding, acquiring weapons, sabotaging or circumventing state security systems, these areas are has become the standard for terrorist networks.”
As digital threats continue to scale, occurring in the millions every day, they can Real physical impact he said. Indicates ransomware attacks that have brought down critical services such as American Colonial Pipelinewhich has already cut off gas supplies, he noted that cyber intrusions can affect critical systems including water systems, hospitals, air traffic and financial systems.
Ng said that attacks with the most “malicious” intent and aimed at undermining Singapore’s sovereignty or security should be distinguished, stressing the need for a dedicated unit to build, train and train. and maintain the “cyber army” and protection ability digital borders of the country.
“The DIS will ensure Singapore is protected against all threats against potential invaders,” he said. “The digital environment is more porous than the physical one, but the DIS will be responsible for defending against invaders in that field.”
Amendments to the SAF Act passed in parliament this week set the path for the DIS to be formally established, along with changes to other Acts to ensure new services – and ” its soldiers” – will be officially recognized as part of the army. The Constitution was also amended to give the Singapore president discretionary power to appoint CDI.
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