App stores may soon require age assurance measures in SG following new code

Singapore will reportedly be introducing a new code, "code for app distribution services", that will require mobile app stores to implement age assurance measures to protect children. 

The code, according to The Straits Times, will safeguard children from downloading apps that are inappropriate for their age and require designated mobile app stores to remove harmful content in online games and marketplaces. 

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Minister for digital development and information Josephine Teo reportedly said that online safety is a pressing challenge, and that Singapore has not shied away from changing laws when there are good reasons to during her speech at the Digital for Life partners' appreciation event held at the National Gallery Singapore.

The minister reportedly did not give further details on the proposed code or when it might be introduced. 

In addition, the proposed "code for app distribution services" will complement the "code of practice for online safety".

The "code of practice for online safety" took effect in July 2023 and required social media services to limit Singapore users' exposure to online harm. This includes sexual content, violent content, suicide and self-harm content, cyberbullying content, content endangering public health, and content facilitating vice and organised crime.

The "code of practice for online safety" also required social media services to have additional measures in place to enhance the online safety of children. This includes having in place more restrictive account settings for children and providing tools for children or their parents to manage their safety. 

In February last year, Teo said that the ministry of digital development and information (previously ministry of communications and information) will take steps to strengthen online safety through a new "code of practice for app stores" too.  The "code of practice for app stores" will introduce a classification scheme for online games.

The classification scheme for online games will clarify the age appropriateness of games and help parents better supervise their children's online gaming. As such, apps with "egregious content may also become unavailable for download" said Teo at the time. 

Earlier this year, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) also released a survey on youth gamers and revealed that 47% of youths aged 10 to 18 years old gamed every day.

It also found that 14% of youth gamers have engaged strangers outside of gaming. Such behaviours present a risk of potential exposure to adult predators and online scams, said the survey. 

The survey also found that 17% of youth gamers aged 13 to 18 years old experienced in-game bullying from other players.

More than a third of them (38%) have sometimes or frequently come across vulgarities or violent content in games. Those who played first-person shooter games were more likely to come across both types of harmful content. 

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