New measures to tackle online harms have taken effect in Singapore, anchored by a newly established body, the Online Safety Commission. The commission is empowered to step in on a range of online harms, including the power to order app stores to remove social media platforms in serious cases.
At its core, the Online Safety Commission is meant to provide quick and effective relief to victims of online harms. Those behind the body say its processes have been designed to assist victims and that it will, at its heart, have the interests of those affected as its priority.
The harms that fall under its remit include child abuse material, doxxing, online harassment and online stalking. The framework is also designed to expand over time, with more categories of online harm set to be added at a later stage.
For some of these harms, victims can go straight to the Online Safety Commission to file a report. For others, such as online harassment and stalking, victims are first expected to report the incident to the online platform where it is taking place.
If the platform provides no response, or one deemed inadequate, victims can then escalate the matter to the commission. This staged approach is intended to give platforms a chance to act before the regulator steps in directly.
Once the commission has assessed a report, it can issue directions to those communicating the harmful content, as well as to administrators and the platforms involved. Its powers extend to internet service providers and even app stores, meaning parties can be directed to stop spreading harmful content, all the way to ordering the removal of platforms from app stores.
Beyond the formal channel, victims of online harms can also approach community partners such as Touch Community Services for support. If any of the parties involved are unhappy with a decision, the matter can be put up for reconsideration, and unresolved cases can be taken to an independent appeal panel.