Singapore’s New Online Safety Commission to Begin Operations This Month

A new government body, the Online Safety Commission, is scheduled to commence operations on June 29. This agency aims to assist individuals affected by online harms. Veteran civil servant Francis Ng, 50, will lead the new commission as its inaugural Commissioner.

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The Ministry of Digital Development and Information and the Ministry of Law made this announcement, detailing the commission's powers. Where online harm has occurred, the Commissioner can mandate action to stop the issue. This includes requiring the removal of harmful content or placing restrictions on a perpetrator's online account.

And Mr Ng brings substantial experience to this role. He possesses more than 25 years of expertise in public sector legal positions, having held significant appointments such as director of legal policy in the Ministry of Law and deputy chief prosecutor in the crime division of the Attorney-General's Chambers. He is currently the Official Assignee and Public Trustee, Official Receiver, Licensing Officer, Registrar of Moneylenders, Registrar of Pawnbrokers, and Chief Maintenance Enforcement Officer under the Ministry of Law.

Mr Ng will be appointed as the commissioner-designate of online safety from June 1 until June 28. He will formally assume the full role of commissioner on June 29. The establishment of the Online Safety Commission follows the passage of the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act in Parliament last Nov.

Specified provisions under this new legislation will also come into effect on June 29. These provisions grant the Online Safety Commission authority to direct online platforms, group or page administrators, and content creators to remove detrimental content and restrict the online accounts of perpetrators. Victims may also apply to the court for civil damages if individuals, group or page administrators, and platforms conduct online harms or fail to take reasonable measures to respond to reported online harms.

The law was introduced amid increasing concerns over the rapid speed and extensive scale at which harmful online content can circulate. Such content includes harassment and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Victims had also communicated that they desired prompt removal of online harms and the capacity to pursue action against anonymous perpetrators.

But Singapore is one of the few nations globally with an agency dedicated to assisting victims of online harms. The country has drawn lessons from Australia's eSafety Commissioner, which was established in 2015 as the world's first dedicated online safety regulator. The Online Safety Commission will address 13 distinct types of online harms.

Initially, the commission will focus on online harassment, doxxing, online stalking, intimate image abuse, and image-based child abuse upon its opening. It will progressively expand its scope to include online impersonation, inauthentic material or deepfake abuse, online instigation of disproportionate harm, incitement of violence and enmity, non-consensual disclosure of private information, and the publication of false or reputationally damaging statements. Victims of non-consensual distribution of intimate photographs, child abuse material, and doxxing will receive immediate assistance from the agency for content removal.

For other categories of harm, victims must first file a report with the respective online platform. If no response is received within 24 hours, they can then contact the Online Safety Commission. The commission will also have the authority to obtain identity information of a perpetrator from online platforms, mirroring how law enforcement agencies are empowered to acquire such details for investigations.

This information includes the user's name, verified phone numbers, or credit card details. These particulars can be used for further enquiries with telecommunication companies or banks. Victims can then use this information to pursue legal remedies.

According to the Ministry of Digital Development and Information and the Ministry of Law, these measures collectively strengthen Singapore's response to online harms. They provide victims with a dedicated channel to seek timely relief and establish clear responsibilities for those who post harmful content, manage online spaces, and operate platforms. Stefanie Yuen Thio, chairwoman of the non-profit organisation SG Her Empowerment, expressed satisfaction at the upcoming launch of the commission. She noted that legislation's effectiveness ultimately depends on its implementation.

So, Ms Yuen Thio stated that the true measure of success will be whether a survivor seeking help feels genuinely heard and receives tangible relief, rather than just a reference number. She also commented that this outcome will require more than statutory powers; it demands coordination, empathy, and a steadfast commitment to prioritising survivors. The commissioner, she observed, will be instrumental in setting the standard for how online harms are addressed in Singapore.

Ms Yuen Thio highlighted Mr Ng's deep commitment to ensuring digital safety and mental well-being, particularly for vulnerable groups. She stated her belief that he will lead with principles and fairness. Additionally, she mentioned that the SG Her Empowerment team has met with the Online Safety Commission and shared its experiences of working with survivors of online harm, finding the commission's team receptive and open.

Professor Eugene Tan, a law lecturer at Singapore Management University who served on a steering committee that shaped the new legislation, indicated that the Online Safety Commission will become a critical institution for fostering online responsibility and accountability. He observed that Singaporeans spend significant time online, and countering online harms constitutes an important facet of expanding the online world. Professor Tan expects the Online Safety Commission to help cultivate the norms and values necessary to align standards of conduct between the real and virtual realms.

• The Online Safety Commission will open on June 29.

• Francis Ng has been appointed as the Commissioner.

• The commission has powers to direct content removal and account restrictions.

• Victims can seek civil damages and the commission can obtain perpetrator identity information.

• The agency draws lessons from Australia's eSafety Commissioner.

Source: Straitstimes.com