2025年2月18日，新加坡數碼發展與新聞部政務部長拉哈尤.瑪贊代表部長在國會口頭答覆楊厝港單選區議員葉漢榮關於有效落實手機應用年齡驗證與限制功能的質詢。
以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：
葉漢榮（楊厝港單選區議員）詢問主管數碼發展與新聞部長：
（a）鑒於兒童可能通過父母的用戶帳戶下載應用，當局計劃如何確保應用商店有效落實年齡驗證與限制措施，使兒童僅能接觸適合其年齡的應用？（b）是否會考慮強制要求應用商店採用更嚴格的年齡驗證方式，如人臉識別技術，防止兒童利用父母密碼或生物識別數據繞過年齡限制？
拉哈尤.瑪贊（新加坡數碼發展與新聞部政務部長，代表部長）：議長先生，資訊通信媒體發展局（IMDA）發布的應用商店行為準則（Code for App Distribution Services）將於2025年3月31日生效。該守則旨在降低用戶，尤其是年輕用戶在應用程式上接觸有害內容的風險。
為實現這一目標，《準則》要求指定應用程式商店採取年齡保證措施，防止年輕用戶訪問與年齡不符的應用程式。通過使用面部估算技術進行年齡估算，是指定應用程式商店為滿足要求而可選擇實施的措施之一。但《準則》不規定具體方法或技術，指定應用商店可自行決定最有效的實施方案，前提是達到預期的在線安全效果。
資媒局將在未來數月繼續與這些應用商店就其執行計劃進行磋商。初期要求包括：至少能識別18歲以下用戶，並禁止其訪問最高年齡分級應用（如18+）。資媒局將評估相關計劃是否符合《準則》要求。
單靠監管難以防止父母或其他成年人協助兒童繞過年齡驗證措施。因此，教育家長認識其在保護兒童網絡安全方面的重要角色至關重要。為此，政府通過公共教育項目，幫助家長掌握引導子女數字生活、防範網絡風險的知識與技能。例如，教育部、社會及家庭發展部與保健促進局於2024年9月推出「親子身心培育指南」（Parenting for Wellness）計劃，提供管理螢幕使用、應對網絡霸凌等主題資源。家長亦可訪問資媒局」數碼益終身」（Digital for Life ）網站，獲取安全負責任使用數碼技術的實用策略。
我們將繼續就年齡保證要求和實施與業界密切合作，這是我們不斷努力加強新加坡在線安全的一部分。
下午 3 時 07 分
議長先生：葉先生，對不起，時間到了。請遵守秩序，提問時間結束。我建議現在休息一下。會議暫停，我將在下午3：30分主持會議。
[根據會議常規第 22(3)條的規定，如議員並無要求將其名下的質詢押後至稍後的會議日提出或撤回，則質詢時間結束 時議員仍未提問的書面答覆，現載於附錄。］
以下是英文質詢內容：
Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information (a) how does the Ministry plan to ensure the effective implementation of age verification and restriction measures by app stores so that only age-appropriate apps are accessible to children given that children may download apps through their parents』 user accounts; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider mandating more robust age verification methods such as facial recognition technology, to prevent children from bypassing age restrictions using their parents』 passwords or biometric data.
The Minister of State for Digital Development and Information (Ms Rahayu Mahzam) (for the Minister for Digital Development and Information): Mr Speaker, the Code of Practice for Online Safety for App Distribution Services published by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will take effect on 31 March 2025. It aims to reduce the risk of exposure to harmful content for users, especially young users, on apps.
To achieve its objective, the Code requires designated app stores to put in place age assurance measures to prevent young users from accessing age-inappropriate apps. Age estimation through the use of facial estimation technology is one of the measures which designated app stores can choose to implement to meet the requirements. However, the Code does not prescribe specific methods or technologies. The designated app stores can decide what works best for them, as long as the online safety outcomes are met.
IMDA will continue to engage these app stores over the next few months on their implementation plans. For a start, they are minimally expected to be able to ascertain users under 18 and prevent them from accessing their highest age-rated apps, for example, 18+. IMDA will assess if the plans meet the requirements under the Code.
Regulations alone are unlikely to prevent a parent or any adult from helping a child circumvent the age assurance measures. It is also important to educate parents on their important role in keeping children safe online. To this end, the Government has put in place public education efforts to equip parents with the knowledge and skills to guide their children’s digital journey and safeguard them against risks online. As an example, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social and Family Development and Health Promotion Board launched the Parenting for Wellness initiative in September 2024, which covers resources on various topics such as managing screen use and addressing cyberbullying. Parents can also visit the IMDA’s Digital for Life portal for bite-sized strategies on safe and responsible use of digital technologies.
We will continue to work closely with the industry on the age assurance requirements and implementation as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance online safety in Singapore.
3.07 pm
Mr Speaker: Mr Yip, I am sorry, but we are out of time. Order, end of Question Time. I propose to take a break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair at 3.30 pm.
[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), provided that Members had not asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn, written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix.]
Sitting accordingly suspended
at 3.07 pm until 3.30 pm.
Sitting resumed at 3.30 pm.
[Mr Speaker in the Chair]
CF丨翻譯
Alex丨編審
新加坡國會丨來源
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