New agency will give victims of online harm faster recourse

One-stop centre will deal with perpetrators, enforce swift removal of harmful content

- Osmond Chia

Individuals affected by cyber bullying, deepfakes and non-consensual sharing of intimate images can seek faster recourse through a government agency that will be set up to help victims of online harm.

Announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Oct 1, the agency will be a one-stop centre for victims, acting on their behalf to deal with perpetrators and online service providers such as social media platforms and to enforce the swift removal of harmful content.

To do this, the agency will be empowered by a new law to improve protection for victims, expected to be introduced in 2025.

"All victims of online harms would want the damaging content to be removed quickly and permanently," PM Wong said at the launch of Smart Nation 2.0, an update to the national digital initiative.

He added: "They must be able to turn to a trusted source of support, who can act on their behalf to direct perpetrators and service providers to put a stop to the harms."

The event at the nearly completed Punggol Digital District showcased the Government's overarching digitalisation plans for the coming years and marked a decade since the launch of the initiative in 2014.

While the operational details of the new agency and legislation are still being worked out with the Ministry of Law, the agency is among the most significant initiatives under Smart Nation 2.0 to mitigate the risks of online spaces and build trust.

Victims of online harm will be able to submit an application to the agency to seek redress, said the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) on Oct 1.