Stocks and Investing Stocks and Investing

Acra to restore Bizfile search function; restrict access to full NRIC numbers to paying users


Published on 2024-12-19 07:20:53 - The Straits Times
  Print publication without navigation

  • The press conference followed public outcry over Acra's Dec 9 decision to make NRIC numbers searchable on Bizfile for free, without requiring users to first register. The search function, which allows users to look up information about a company's directors and public representatives, was disabled on Dec 13.

The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) of Singapore plans to restore the search function on its BizFile+ platform, which was previously suspended due to concerns over the exposure of personal data. ACRA will implement new measures to safeguard personal information by restricting access to the full National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) numbers of company directors and secretaries. Only paying users, such as banks, financial institutions, and law firms, will have access to this sensitive data, while the general public will see only the last four digits of the NRIC. This decision follows a review prompted by public feedback and aims to balance the need for transparency with the protection of personal data. ACRA is also considering further enhancements to its data protection measures, including the potential use of unique entity numbers (UEN) instead of NRIC numbers.

Read the Full The Straits Times Article at:
[ https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/acra-to-restore-bizfile-search-function-restrict-access-to-full-nric-numbers-to-paying-users ]