Victims of harmful online content in Singapore could soon find relief faster, as the government collaborates with major digital platforms to expedite response times. Under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act (OSRAA), platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram are currently required to address different types of online harm within six to 48 hours. The Singapore Government aims to reduce these time frames, particularly as platforms become more accustomed to the existing framework.
Law Minister Edwin Tong highlighted efforts to make reporting online harms more accessible for victims, potentially allowing notification forms to be accessed directly through the platforms themselves. This initiative could simplify the process, ensuring victims need only provide essential information. Major platforms might also establish dedicated contact channels, such as specific email addresses, to streamline reporting.
The current framework mandates swift action on straightforward cases such as the non-consensual sharing of intimate images or videos and certain child abuse materials within six hours. Meanwhile, other intimate image abuses and image-based child abuse cases require a response within 24 hours, with online harassment, doxing, and stalking needing action within 48 hours.
Additionally, the government is exploring solutions for instances where harmful content continues to circulate even after victims can no longer find the original post. Cross-border issues involving foreign perpetrators or platforms are also under examination to bolster the effectiveness of the framework.
Since the launch of Singapore’s Online Safety Commission in June, more than 500 reports of online harms have been received. The commission plays a critical role in assisting victims by facilitating the removal of harmful content and imposing restrictions on offending accounts, thus enhancing online safety across the nation’s digital landscape.