TraceTogether data use: Vivian Balakrishnan takes ‘full responsibility’ for error, says it would be ‘unconscionable’ to inhibit police work

TODAY, 2 Feb - https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/tracetogether-data-use-vivian-balakrishnan-takes-full-responsibility-error-says-it-would

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Lianhe Zaobao, page 4 and page 6, 3 Feb

The Government made an error in not stating that data from the TraceTogether contact-tracing system is not exempt from the Criminal Procedure Code, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said on Tuesday (Feb 2), adding that he takes full responsibility for this mistake. Upon clarifying that TraceTogether data did indeed come under the ambit of the Criminal Procedure Code, the Government stressed that such contact tracing data would only be used to investigate seven types of serious crimes. Dr Balakrishnan quoted Professor Ang Peng Hwa from NTU, who raised an ethical dilemma in choosing between the right to protect public health by protecting TraceTogether data and the equally important right to protect public safety from serious crimes.