&gt; “The big, big elephant in the room is protection of privacy and ensuring security,” says Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s foreign affairs minister and minister-in-charge of Smart Nation.<p>The idea that Singapore will protect the privacy of its citizens (or their access to information) is not credible in light of:<p>* <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.economist.com&#x2F;blogs&#x2F;banyan&#x2F;2013&#x2F;06&#x2F;regulating-singapores-internet" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.economist.com&#x2F;blogs&#x2F;banyan&#x2F;2013&#x2F;06&#x2F;regulating-sin...</a><p>and<p>* <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;sg.news.yahoo.com&#x2F;-smart-nation--singapore-will-be-watching-you-105712193.html" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;sg.news.yahoo.com&#x2F;-smart-nation--singapore-will-be-w...</a><p>The ruling party uses power to eliminate opposition:<p>* <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.csmonitor.com&#x2F;1990&#x2F;0731&#x2F;eross.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.csmonitor.com&#x2F;1990&#x2F;0731&#x2F;eross.html</a><p>and<p>* <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.questia.com&#x2F;newspaper&#x2F;1P2-33363045&#x2F;suppression-in-singapore-the-government-restricts" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.questia.com&#x2F;newspaper&#x2F;1P2-33363045&#x2F;suppression-i...</a><p>Many, many other examples can be found with minimal searching.