S'pore govt to set up new agency for victims of online harm to seek redress & to promote better online behaviour

Singapore will set up a new government agency to support victims who are seeking relief from specific online harms, and to promote responsible behaviour online.

According to a press release by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), the agency will act on behalf of victims to direct perpetrators and online service providers to stop the online harm.

Victims can submit an application to the new agency to seek redress.

This agency will provided "added assurance" on top of existing regulatory levers and court-based processes for Singapore users, said MDDI.

Agency will focus on cyberbullying and non-consensual sharing of intimate images

The agency will also focus on the most serious and prevalent online harms affecting victims in Singapore, such as cyberbullying and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

MDDI cited a survey by SG Her Empowerment (SHE) which found that 38 per cent of respondents had personally experienced some form of online harm.

In addition, of all the respondents who experienced harmful online content or conduct, 26 per cent encountered sexual harassment or cyberbullying.

Respondents to MDDI's own survey pointed out issues with the reporting process

Many of the victims want the "swift removal" of harmful online material affecting them, MDDI added.

Victims, experts, and community organisations that the ministry consulted have also called for more effective ways of seeking recourse as well as halting the continued presence of such harmful online materials.

MDDI also cited its own 2024 survey in which eight out of 10 of respondents who reported harmful online content experienced issues with the reporting process.

The ministry said:

"There is therefore a need to improve the timeliness and effectiveness of relief to victims. Perpetrators should also be held accountable for the harms suffered by victims."

The government will also complement the agency's efforts by continuing with public education efforts.

This includes raising awareness about the risks of online harms, what the public can do to prevent and protect themselves against such harms, as well as the avenues of recourse available to victims under the proposed legislation.

MDDI said more details would be shared "in the coming months".

Government to introduce Digital Infrastructure Act in 2025

MDDI also said that the government would introduce a new Digital Infrastructure Act in 2025.

The ministry highlighted that disruptions in digital services can also cause distress and exacerbate risks for people's wellbeing.

MDDI highlighted that the existing Cybersecurity Act regulates organisations and systems relied on for digital services, such as cloud services and data centres.

The new Digital Infrastructure Act will address "a broader set" of resilience and security risks, and bolster efforts to improve the reliability of Singapore's digital infrastructure and services, MDDI said.

Apart from cybersecurity risks, this proposed law will also tackle issues ranging from technical misconfigurations to physical hazards such as fires and cooling system failures.

The announcements were made at the launch of Smart Nation 2.0, which MDDI said is "Singapore's refreshed vision for a society where everyone can thrive in the digital age".

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