Singapore introduced three new initiatives – the new Global AI Assurance Sandbox, a new PET adoption guide and the Singapore Standard for Data Protection – underscoring our commitment to create a trusted ecosystem for the safe and responsible deployment of technologies, especially AI. Announced at the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Summit 2025 by Minister for Digital Development and Information and Minister-in-charge of Cybersecurity and Smart Nation Group, Mrs Josephine Teo, these initiatives build on existing efforts to create space for maximal innovation by companies, while providing the appropriate guardrails so that the public can use these technologies with confidence.

Strong data protection through personal data protection standards and the adoption of privacy enhancing technologies (PETs) allows AI to be trained on data sources without compromising an individual’s privacy. Singapore has been a first mover in enabling the adoption of privacy enhancing technologies (PETs) by organisations through the launch of the new PETs adoption guide. Through the Global AI Assurance Sandbox, the Infocomm Media and Development Authority (IMDA) also aims to provide tools, resources and a safe environment for organisations to trial responsible AI applications. In the field of data protection, the Data Protection Trustmark (DPTM) certification will be elevated to a new Singapore Standard, which will set the benchmark for data protection excellence.

Global AI Assurance Sandbox builds on the insights from pilot phase to include new archetypes and risks, providing practical testing guidance and tools

Since the launch of the Global AI Assurance pilot at the Paris AI Action Summit earlier this year, AI Verify Foundation (AIVF) and IMDA have continued to receive strong interest in the pilot from the industry, both in Singapore and internationally. Building on the positive momentum, AIVF and IMDA have now expanded pilot to cover new archetypes such as agentic AI and risks such as data leakage and vulnerability to prompt injections. The Sandbox will also be open to sector regulators who want to develop and get real-life feedback on their AI governance / testing guidelines. Insights from the Sandbox will inform policy guidance with the aim of developing accreditation for testers. It will also leverage IMDA’s recently launched Starter Kit for Safety Testing of Large Language Models (LLMs) based applications to provide a more standardised, structured manner of operation for the testers. This is aligned to Singapore’s practical, risk-based approach to AI that maximises innovation and adoption with appropriate guardrails to build a trusted ecosystem.

Businesses can now adopt Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) easily with a new adoption guide

In 2022, IMDA, together with PDPC, introduced the PET Sandbox to catalyse the use of PETs by businesses. Based on insights from the PET Sandbox’s use cases, the new PETs Adoption Guide aim to support companies in adopting PETs to unlock greater business value, such as enabling AI and machine learning with greater access to data and cross-sharing of insights between multiple stakeholders (e.g. across teams in organisations or across sectors).

The guide offers two resources, the “PETs Use Case Evaluation Tool”, intended to help organisations identify and evaluate suitable PETs solutions for their specific business needs, and an “Implementation Checklist”, that will highlight key areas of consideration for organisations across the PETs adoption journey—from initial evaluation to sustainable implementation, to ensure secure and effective deployment of PETs for safe insights sharing. Intended as a “living document”, the guide and resources would be constantly refined as new use cases join the IMDA PET Sandbox, as well as from industry feedback. To provide feedback on the PET Adoption Guide, please email: data_innovation@imda.gov.sg.

New National Certification for Data Protection

As data protection continues to evolve globally, IMDA has worked with Enterprise SG and the Singapore Accreditation Council to elevate the Data Protection Trustmark (DPTM) to a new Singapore Standard (SS 714:2025), which puts it on par with global data protection benchmarks and international best practices. Companies that demonstrate accountable data protection practices can now apply to be certified under the new Data Protection Trustmark (DPTM) Singapore Standard, setting the benchmark for data protection excellence.

The DPTM Singapore Standard provides organisations with clearer data protection requirements around critical areas like third-party management and overseas transfers, helping certified organisations to demonstrate their commitment to effective data protection. The Singapore Accreditation Council will provide oversight to the certification bodies to ensure assessment for the DPTM Standard is conducted professionally and meets globally recognised standards. The streamlined process means that organisations will now have a single point of contact throughout their journey from application to certification, working directly with their assessment bodies. Consumers can look to the Trustmark to be assured that these DPTM-certified organisations are following world-class practices in protecting their personal data.

PDP Week 2025, organised by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), will host over 2,000 industry leaders, policymakers and international think-tanks to connect and collaborate on data use and innovation. This year’s theme “Data Protection in a Changing World” highlights the evolving complexities of data protection in today’s digital world and helps to unpack how organisations can stay ahead with agility and accountability. The event underscores Singapore’s commitment to advancing data protection as well as AI safety and assurance standards, paving the way for a trusted and innovative digital future.