The Singapore Government is collaborating with major online platforms to expedite responses to harmful online content, as announced by Law Minister Edwin Tong. The initiative aims to provide quicker relief to victims under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act (OSRAA), which currently mandates response times ranging from six to 48 hours depending on the severity of the online harm.
Platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, TikTok, Reddit, Telegram, and WeChat are required to address straightforward cases like non-consensual sharing of intimate images or child abuse material within six hours. Other incidents, including intimate image abuse or image-based child abuse, must be responded to within 24 hours, while cases of online harassment, doxing, and stalking have a 48-hour response window.
To streamline the reporting process, the government is considering simplifying notification forms on these platforms, ensuring victims need only provide essential information. Additionally, Tong suggested that platforms could establish dedicated reporting channels, such as specific email addresses, to facilitate easier victim communication.
Further, the government is exploring measures to tackle persistent circulation of harmful content, even after the original post has been removed. Cross-border incidents involving international perpetrators or platforms are also under review as part of the broader strategy to enhance online safety.
Since the launch of Singapore’s Online Safety Commission in June, the commission has received over 500 reports of online harm. This body plays a crucial role in assisting victims by facilitating the removal of harmful content and imposing restrictions on offending accounts under the OSRAA framework.