Google's Safer with Google event, with Ben King, Managing Director of Google Singapore on the stage presenting its keynote findings and announcements. Image: Google.
Google Singapore shared some of its local online safety and digital literacy efforts at its second annual Safer with Google event. The conference was held in the presence of Singapore Government representatives, with Madam Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information, as the event’s Guest of Honor.
Anti-malware, anti-scam progress
Source: Google.
Remember the enhanced protection feature where Google Play Protect blocks the installation of risky sideloaded apps announced earlier this year? This feature was first launched in Singapore.
Google said that since then, the security feature has helped block nearly 900,000 high-risk installation attempts. In Singapore alone, it stopped 11,000 unique apps that impersonated messaging, online shopping, and gaming apps across 200,000 devices.
Example of new safeguards and measures to help users tell apart legitimate interactions from fraudulent copycats. Source: Google.
To continue the momentum of safeguarding users, Google is now adding a special “Government” badge to authentic apps published by the Singapore Government. That means that your CPF Mobile, HealthHub, ScamShield, Singpass apps and more would carry a visible logo to show its the real deal (and not a fraud app impersonating them).
Furthermore, with the support of IMDA and Singtel, Google is enabling Rich Communication Services Business Messaging (RBM). This means that verified businesses can send RCS messages to Android phone users that can receive them. RCS messaging is encrypted, and requires verification from legitimate companies and organisations, which (hopefully) reduces scam incidences in unsuspecting consumers.
Empowering digital literacy in Singapore
Source: Google.
Continuing its previous year’s efforts to improve Singapore’s digital literacy, Google’s philanthropic arm announced a US$2 million grant (~S$2.6 million) for local social enterprises to promote safer Internet use.
Google.org is funding the Singaporean social impact organisation Bamboo Builders to sharpen the anti-scam training content developed in Singapore’s four main languages for distribution to local implementing partners. The programme focuses on under-served youth and seniors, and it will partner Tech for Good Institute to conduct research on scams in Singapore and across Southeast Asia.
More details on Google's partnership with SUSS. Source: Google.
Google is also partnering with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) in a first-of-its-kind Trust and Safety professional training course in the Asia Pacific region. The rigours of this course aim to produce more online safety experts who can preach safer Internet use to Singapore and the region. The course covers a multidisciplinary curriculum, including policy, enforcement, legal frameworks, misinformation, online scams, and the responsible use of AI.
Greater awareness of cyberbullying and image-based sexual abuse
YouTube and Google Singapore's Creators for Impact 2023 is now returning with a different focus. Image: Google.
YouTube will launch its third edition of the Creators for Impact programme, supported by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI). This time around, the campaign seeks to empower local YouTube content creators to raise awareness about the online risks faced by youths, such as cyberbullying and image-based sexual abuse.
The second run in 2023 was done in partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs, with the support of the Ministry of Communications and Information (now known as MDDI). The campaign, targeted at scam prevention, featured both Sun Xueling, Singapore's current Minister of State for Home Affairs, and YouTube content creator Naomi Neo.
To learn more about Google's approach towards safer Internet use in Singapore, you can read the full blog post by Google Singapore's Managing Director, Ben King, here.
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