Bill passed after eight hours of debate, adding remedies and an independent commission by 2026.
Parliament passed the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill on Nov 5 after a vigorous debate. Law and Home Affairs Minister Edwin Tong said the law targets anonymous perpetrators of online harms while embedding safeguards to prevent misuse, including penalties for doxxing with disclosed information.
What the Bill Does
The Bill covers 13 categories of online harms that include harassment, doxxing, stalking, non consensual intimate image sharing, and child abuse material. It complements existing frameworks such as the Protection from Harassment Act, defamation laws, and racial and religious harmony laws. Tong stressed that anonymity can enable free speech and access to help, but it must not protect wrongdoing.
Online Safety Commission by 2026
An Online Safety Commission will be set up by the first half of 2026. It can direct takedowns, restrict accounts, and permit a victim’s right of reply. Where platforms already hold identity data, the OSC can require disclosure for suspected harm cases. If perpetrators deliberately conceal details, larger platforms may be directed to take reasonable steps to collect additional identity information.
Identity Disclosure with Guardrails
Victims who report to the OSC can apply to obtain a perpetrator’s identity for specific purposes, including bringing a civil claim. Information may include a name, verified phone number, or credit card details to facilitate checks with telcos or banks. The OSC can impose conditions on use, limited to protection or legal remedies. Breaching these conditions is a criminal offence, and using the data to doxx a perpetrator can itself be an offence.
Statutory Torts and Remedies
The Bill introduces statutory torts for three parties in the ecosystem. Communicators must not make or share content that constitutes online harm. Administrators must not maintain locations that facilitate harm and must act reasonably upon notice. Platforms must also act reasonably when notified. Courts can order compensation for loss of learning capacity or livelihood, account of profits where perpetrators benefited, enhanced damages for persistence after notice, and swift injunctions independent of OSC directions.
Workers’ Party Amendments and Government Response
WP MP He Ting Ru proposed that online material be exempted as harassment if it is fair comment on a matter of public interest. PAP MPs, including Tin Pei Ling and Alex Yeo, argued the term is subjective and unnecessary because content regarded as fair would not be caught. WP NCMP Andre Low pressed to raise the OSC action threshold from “reason to suspect” to “reasonable grounds to believe.” Government MPs warned this could delay relief for victims. Minister Josephine Teo said over specific carve outs might weaken the law’s effectiveness and could be exploited by bad actors.
Reporting Pathways and No Wrong Door
Several MPs queried whether victims must navigate multiple laws and agencies. Minister of State Rahayu Mahzam said the Government will adopt a no wrong door policy and coordinate back end processes with police and relevant agencies. The Bill eventually passed without amendments around 9 pm after more than eight hours of clarifications and debate.
What Was Left Out and Why
WP also suggested expanding the Bill to cover sexual grooming and content that promotes self harm or suicide. The Government said these are addressed under the Penal Code, the Broadcasting Act, and broader online safety rules. The Bill is designed to remove discrete harmful posts and to act quickly where victims know harm has occurred.
For Indonesians and Singaporeans who watch regional digital policy closely, Singapore’s new law signals a firmer stance on accountability without discarding lawful anonymity. The framework blends identity disclosure with safeguards, adds civil remedies for victims, and commits to a coordinated response through an independent commission. Its real test will be fast, fair enforcement that protects speech, deters abuse, and offers victims clear, timely relief.
Sources: Mothership (2025), The Straits Times (2025)
Keywords: Online Harms Commission, Identity Disclosure, Statutory Torts, Fair Comment Debate, Reasonable Grounds, Doxxing Safeguards
