A greater awareness of privacy issues is tightening rules regarding the use of the National Registration Identity Card (NRIC).

The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) -- Singapore's privacy watchdog -- is revising guidelines on how NRIC numbers and the physical cards are handled by companies.

Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act, which went fully into force in July 2014, prohibits the indiscriminate collection of consumers' personal data, and requires organisations to account for the use of the data.

NRIC data is too sensitive

The NRIC number is a permanent and irreplaceable identifier. It can be used to unlock vast amounts of personal information, including income details, residential address and medical status.

In the future, consumers can have the right to refuse to hand over their NRIC details or card and service providers will have to use alternative methods such as mobile phone numbers, vehicle numbers or e-mail addresses to identify them.

New rules proposed

New rules have been proposed on Nov. 7, 2017 in a public consultation and are being tightened following initial public feedback.

The consultation will end on Dec. 18.

Organisations will have up to 12 months from the release of the new advisory on NRIC use to change their business practice to adopt alternatives in place of collecting NRICs or NRIC numbers.

Under the proposed rules, NRIC details should only be collected where the law requires it, or when it is necessary to verify someone's identity "to a high degree of fidelity".

The current rules allow and continue to allow NRIC use without consumers' consent for:

• Seeking medical treatment in hospitals and clinics.

• Enrolling children in childcare centres.

• Checking into a hotel.

• Subscribing to a mobile phone line.

• Emergencies where medical workers need to ascertain the blood type or allergies of a patient.

• Entry into secured buildings such as medical facilities.

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But new rules are pushing for consumers to have the right to refuse to hand over their NRIC details or card when:

• Redeeming free parking from mall operators.

• Entering lucky draws.

• Registering for mall or shop membership.

• Buying online movie tickets.

• Renting bicycles.

How to give feedback?

The new advisory is expected to be released in mid-2018.

Those who wish to give feedback can do so by Dec. 18 at 5pm via email to [email protected].