Public Consultation on Enhancing Online Safety

Introduction

1. The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) propose new measures to help victims of online harms and improve accountability of those who are responsible for these online harms. 

Background

2. Harmful online content and conduct continue to affect many in Singapore and around the world. At the launch of Smart Nation 2.0 on 1 October 2024, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the Government would introduce new legislation and measures to provide stronger assurance to victims, including setting up a dedicated agency to improve protection for them.

3. These proposals form part of the Government’s commitment to tackling online harms and will enable victims to remedy the damage suffered from online harms. They will also help shape the norms of acceptable online conduct and improve accountability among members of the online ecosystem. These proposals complement our existing regulatory framework and the criminal justice system.

4. In summary, the proposed reforms will:

a. Introduce a complaints mechanism, administered by the new agency to provide timely assistance to victims of online harms. 

b. Introduce statutory torts for various online harms, to provide legal certainty should victims of online harms choose to pursue redress against responsible parties in court to hold them accountable through liability for online harms.

c. Increase accountability through improved user information disclosure.

Request for feedback

5. MinLaw and MDDI are seeking feedback on these proposed reforms. The full public consultation paper may be viewed here.

6. We invite members of the public and interested stakeholders to provide your feedback on these proposals by 22 December 2024, 5pm via the "Share Your Feedback" button below.

Share your feedback

7. MinLaw and MDDI may publish a summary of the key feedback received, together with our response, following the end of the public consultation. Please be assured that the identities of respondents will be kept confidential.