Minister for Digital Development and Information (MDDI) Mrs Josephine Teo opened the inaugural Singapore Data Festival (SDF) today, announcing initiatives to help businesses thrive in the data-driven economy through Gen AI, Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs), and Digital Twin technology. Key highlights include AI-specific consent guidelines, a Guide on Federated Learning showcasing PET applications, and the Digital Twin for Enterprises Playbook with practical adoption strategies. Additionally, the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC) to streamline cross-border data flows.

In today’s digital age, many businesses have been collecting personal data from their customers but the potential of using this data to drive business decisions and outcomes often remains untapped due to privacy regulations and commercial sensitivities. By responsibly leveraging data, businesses can unlock opportunities to generate revenue, improve efficiency, and build customer trust. The Singapore Data Festival convenes global policymakers, industry leaders and data protection officers to understand how to protect data in the age of AI, learn to innovate responsibly with data and to connect with partners both internationally and locally.

Protecting data in the age of AI

Businesses incorporating AI into their workflows can now have greater clarity on how data protection and transparency principles apply, with the new Advisory Guidelines on use of Personal Data in Gen AI and Transparency Guidelines for Gen AI Chatbots. The PDPC Advisory Guidelines on use of Personal Data in Gen AI clarifies how data can be collected and used to develop Gen AI models, allocates data protection responsibilities across the AI lifecycle (including the protection of new data sources such as end-user prompts) and recommends how individuals’ requests on personal data should be handled. Consumers can look forward to receiving notifications seeking specific consent for the use of personal data in specific cases of Gen AI model training with these new Advisory Guidelines. For more details, please refer to the factsheet on the Advisory Guidelines. The Guidelines can also be accessed here: https://www.go.gov.sg/ag-gen-ai.

The Infocomm Media and Development Authority’s (IMDA) Transparency Guidelines for Gen AI Chatbots complement the Advisory Guidelines by helping consumers better understand how Gen AI chatbot deployers use their data, while also providing broader consumer-facing transparency on the chatbots they interact with. The Guidelines encourage chatbot deployers to provide relevant, accessible and timely information through “Chatbot Info Cards”, covering a chatbot’s capabilities and limitations, safety and reliability practices, data use and protection, and reporting channels. This facilitates the safe and responsible use of Gen AI chatbots by enabling consumers to make more informed decisions, including what types of data they choose to share with such services. For more details, please refer to the factsheet on the Transparency Guidelines. The Guidelines can also be accessed here: https://www.go.gov.sg/transparency-guidelines.

As part of the ongoing work for data protection, PDPC has updated the Guide to Data Protection Practices for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Systems with current best practices based on recent data breaches and cyber essential measures that industries are expected to adopt. The updated guide includes best practices when implementing AI systems, which will benefit companies adopting and integrating AI into their business workflows. The Guide can be accessed here: https://go.gov.sg/pdpc-ict.

Data as a strategic and competitive differentiator for businesses

Businesses can harness the potential of data to improve operations and drive better outcomes through Digital Twin technology — a live, data-driven digital representation of physical assets, systems, or processes that stays in sync with real-world operations. Enabled by AI, a Digital Twin allows businesses to monitor and optimise operations, anticipate problems before they occur, and safely test changes in a virtual environment before implementing them in physical operations. This is particularly valuable in manufacturing, built environment, and logistics, where the cost of unplanned downtime, defects, or supply chain disruptions can be significant. For example, a Digital Twin fed with live building equipment data can capture early signs of failure, allowing maintenance to be scheduled before breakdowns occur.

As businesses increasingly adopt AI and data-driven technologies, IMDA sees growing opportunities for Digital Twin technology to help them improve operational performance and resilience. To support this, IMDA today launched the Digital Twin for Enterprises Playbook — the first practical field guide curated with the local business context in mind, drawing on real world experiences of enterprises in Singapore. Developed through industry engagements with early adopter enterprises, solution providers, and technology leaders, the Playbook guides businesses through identifying the right use cases, assessing data readiness, establishing safeguards, and implementing projects that deliver business value. Complementing the Playbook, IMDA will also conduct Tech Discovery Workshops and work with technology partners to help enterprises understand the technology, identify impactful use cases, and see implementation through — equipping them with the capabilities to sustain and scale their Digital Twin journey with confidence. As Digital Twin technology continues to evolve, IMDA will work with industry to support enterprise adoption. For more details, please refer to the factsheet on the Digital Twin for Enterprises Playbook. The Playbook can be accessed here:

https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imda/file/enterprise-digital-transformation/digital-twin/digital-twin-for-enterprises-playbook.pdf.

For businesses that are using data to drive business outcomes, the adoption of PETs can be a competitive differentiator by unlocking opportunities to collaborate on more data, while addressing privacy risks and circumventing commercial sensitivities. PDPC’s new Guide on Federated Learning (FL), a type of PET, was developed in consultation with industry experts including Nvidia. This guide aims to equip organisations with practical knowledge to assess whether FL suits their context and how to implement it responsibly. PDPC has also updated the Guide on Synthetic Data Generation (SDG) to reflect the latest use cases, best practices and emerging developments in synthetic data adoption. For more details, please refer to the factsheet on the Guide on FL and Guide on SDG. The Guide on FL can be accessed here: https://www.go.gov.sg/pdpc-fl-guide, and the Guide on SDG can be accessed here: https://www.go.gov.sg/pdpc-sdg.

Beyond providing guidance, IMDA’s PET Sandbox offers practical support such as grants to mitigate the cost of PETs Proof of Concepts (POC), for businesses looking to adopt PETs. Support will be further enhanced this year, where companies will be given access to demos of different types of PET tools, intended as a lightweight, easy-to-understand resource to help users appreciate how the PET works and its applicability in certain business contexts and use cases, before embarking on POC. New use cases with Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Ant International (Ant) are also published this year under the Sandbox, which can be accessed via IMDA website.

International Collaboration on Data Protection

PDPC continues to foster international relationships to give the public confidence that their data is protected wherever it flows and to help businesses operate across border with less friction and lower compliance costs. PDPC signed a MOC at the Singapore Data Festival today with Japan’s PPC to deepen cooperation in promoting the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules (GCBPR) and establish a basis for developing model contractual clauses (MCCs). These efforts position Singapore as a global leader in data protection and innovation, enabling businesses to thrive in a connected world. The MCCs and GCBPR system will allow businesses operating in Singapore and Japan to lower the cost of compliance when transferring data while ensuring that data is still protected and meets the privacy regulations of both nations. The MOC is signed by Commissioner of Singapore’s PDPC Ms Denise Wong and Chairman of Japan’s PPC Dr Tezuka Satoru, with Ambassador of Japan to Singapore, Mr Hiroshi Ishikawa and Chief Executive Officer of IMDA, Mr Ng Cher Pong, witnessing the signing.

PDPC as a regulator and active enabler of Singapore’s data economy

The Singapore Data Festival reflects PDPC’s growing role as both regulator and active enabler of Singapore’s data economy. Through this shift, PDPC and IMDA hope to build trust in Singapore’s data ecosystem locally and internationally, empower responsible data innovation and normalise digital responsibility. The Festival takes place from 20 to 24 July 2026 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands. For more information on the event, please visit http://www.go.gov.sg/sdf26-media.

Protecting data in the age of AI

Data as a strategic and competitive differentiator for businesses

International Collaboration on Data Protection

PDPC as a regulator and active enabler of Singapore’s data economy

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