In more detail
The Commission and the Bill aim to reduce the time taken for victims to receive help for online harms. In particular, the Commission is intended as a "one-stop shop" for victims, allowing them to request the Commission to order platforms to take down offensive content. Importantly, the Commission will also be empowered to require the removal of any existing identical copies of such content.
Victims can also request information about perpetrators from the Commission should they wish to take legal action against these wrongdoers.
These developments add to existing avenues to victims in Singapore, including those under the amended Broadcasting Act and the Protection from Harassment Act. The amended Broadcasting Act enables the government to order app stores and social media services to remove specified harmful content, while the Protection from Harassment Act enables victims to take known perpetrators to court and seek compensation.
Key takeaways
The Commission and the Bill are the latest efforts by the Singapore government to protect victims of online harms. Results from a recent public consultation reveal strong support for the proposed measures, seemingly primarily driven by demands to hold perpetrators accountable and deter harmful behavior, the need to compensate victims, and the importance of platform accountability to users.
While questions persist about the balance between the responsibility of content creators and that of platforms, as well as how these developments will affect free speech and content creation, these measures provide additional recourse for victims and will help improve the safety of online spaces.
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For further information and to discuss what this development might mean for you, please get in touch with your usual Baker McKenzie contact.
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