On 29 June 2026, the Online Safety Commission (“OSC“) will commence operations, and specified provisions on the statutory torts under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 (“OSRAA“) will come into effect. These measures seek to strengthen Singapore’s response to online harms by giving victims a dedicated avenue to seek timely relief, and by putting clear responsibilities on those who post harmful content, run online spaces, and operate platforms.
Addressing Online Harms
The OSC supports the office of the Commissioner of Online Safety (“Commissioner“) and seeks to provide victims of online harms with a more accessible avenue to seek relief. The targeted online harms are addressed in the OSRAA, which prescribes 13 categories of online harms. In the first phase of operationalisation, the OSC will focus on five of the most prevalent and severe harms: (i) intimate image abuse; (ii) image-based child abuse; (iii) doxxing; (iv) online harassment (including online sexual harassment); and (v) online stalking. The remaining categories will be progressively implemented.
Where online harm has occurred, the Commissioner can direct action to stop the harm. This includes requiring that harmful content be taken down or restricting the perpetrator’s online account.
Anonymity
The framework also provides avenues for victims to identify perpetrators who hide behind anonymous accounts. In appropriate circumstances, the Commissioner is empowered to require platforms to provide identity information of end-users who have committed online harms.
Statutory Torts
From 29 June 2026, specified statutory tort provisions under OSRAA will also take effect. These provisions provide a clear legal basis for victims to hold those responsible for online harms accountable, and to seek remedies from the court, including damages for losses suffered and injunctions to stop the harm.
These statutory torts clarify the duties of those who post content (Communicators), those who run groups or pages (Administrators) and Platforms.
- Communicators: A person must not communicate, publish or engage in any conduct relating to any specified online harm in Singapore.
- Administrators: An administrator must not create, set up or administer an online location in a manner that facilitates or permits the conduct of any online harm, intending or knowing that harm would occur. An administrator must also take reasonable measures to address specified online harms at their online location upon receiving notice of such harm.
- Platforms: A platform must take reasonable measures to address specified online harms upon receiving notice of such harm. Certain platforms, such as those with greater reach, will be subject to additional requirements, for example, on the time taken to respond to such notices.
The statutory tort provisions will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, victims of the five most prevalent and severe harms listed above may hold Communicators, Administrators or Platforms to account for their statutory duties under the OSRAA.
Click on the following link for more information:
- Ministry of Law (“MinLaw“) Press Release titled “Online Safety Commission and Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 to Start on 29 June 2026” (available on the MinLaw website at www.mlaw.gov.sg)
Disclaimer
Rajah & Tann Asia is a network of member firms with local legal practices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Our Asian network also includes our regional office in China as well as regional desks focused on Brunei, Japan and South Asia. Member firms are independently constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local requirements.
The contents of this publication are owned by Rajah & Tann Asia together with each of its member firms and are subject to all relevant protection (including but not limited to copyright protection) under the laws of each of the countries where the member firm operates and, through international treaties, other countries. No part of this publication may be reproduced, licensed, sold, published, transmitted, modified, adapted, publicly displayed, broadcast (including storage in any medium by electronic means whether or not transiently for any purpose save as permitted herein) without the prior written permission of Rajah & Tann Asia or its respective member firms.
Please note also that whilst the information in this publication is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief at the time of writing, it is only intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be treated as legal advice or a substitute for specific professional advice for any particular course of action as such information may not suit your specific business and operational requirements. You should seek legal advice for your specific situation. In addition, the information in this publication does not create any relationship, whether legally binding or otherwise. Rajah & Tann Asia and its member firms do not accept, and fully disclaim, responsibility for any loss or damage which may result from accessing or relying on the information in this publication.
