Parliament passes online harms Bill after more than 8 hours of debate

New agency will tackle 13 types of online harms; WP amendments voted down

- Lee Li Ying Correspondent

A new law to offer timely redress and better protection to victims of online harms was passed in Parliament on Nov 5, paving the way for the setup of a one-stop government agency by June 2026 that can direct platforms to take down harmful content.

The Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill was passed after more than eight hours of debate, where 23 MPs spoke intensely on issues ranging from remedies for victims who are minors to the risk of intruding on users’ privacy and the risk of the new government agency’s power being an overreach.

Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said that victims want quick takedowns of online harms.

A 2025 study by the Infocomm Media Development Authority found that platforms take about five days or more to act on valid reports of online harm.

“This is highly unsatisfactory for victims,” said Mrs Teo.

Victims often live in fear as perpetrators are anonymous. Many are also daunted by the existing complex and expensive court processes for seeking remedies.

But the new one-stop agency, the Online Safety Commission (OSC), will act for victims by issuing directions to platforms, administrators of groups or pages, content communicators, internet service providers or app stores to take down harmful content, restrict the perpetrator’s online account or allow the victim to post a reply.

The WP proposed five broad amendments, which were voted down by the House. Among the proposed amendments were stating that online material is not harassment if it constitutes “fair comment on a matter of public interest”, and including sexual grooming and the publication of online material that promotes suicide or self-harm under the OSC’s purview.

Singapore will be one of a few countries with an agency dedicated to helping victims of online harms, said Mrs Teo, noting that it drew lessons from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner set up in 2015.