Users of SingPass, an account used in Singapore to access e-government services, can now use face verification as a two-factor authentication (2FA) method. They are also able to access their accounts using multi-user SMS one-time passwords (OTP) linked to another SingPass user’s mobile number. This option has been added to the platform in order to help those who are less digitally literate to navigate the platform with the assistance of others who may have a better understanding of the digital platform.
These two new additions of 2FA were added to the platform as part of the Singaporean government’s efforts to help create a digitally inclusive society, according to the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech). GovTech said that face verification technology was an integral way to securely safeguard against fraud, with liveness detection capabilities having the ability to detect users even when wearing masks. The “multi-user SMS OTP” was added in order to accommodate users who may be less technologically savvy, with those who are older and less digitally literate being able to send a verification message o their child instead of themself.
