Online Safety Commission and Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 to Start on 29 June 2026

14 May 2026 Posted in Press releases

1. From 29 June 2026, Singaporeans will have stronger protection and faster avenues for relief against online harms. The Online Safety Commission (OSC) will commence operations, and specified provisions on the statutory torts under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 (OSRAA) will come into effect on the same day.

2. Together, these measures strengthen Singapore’s response to online harms by giving victims a dedicated avenue to seek timely relief, and by putting clear responsibilities on those who post harmful content, run online spaces, and operate platforms.

Online Safety Commission

3. The OSC supports the office of the Commissioner of Online Safety (the Commissioner), a key feature of OSRAA, which was passed in Parliament on 5 November 2025. Headed by the Commissioner, the OSC will begin its operations on 29 June 2026, providing victims of online harms with a more accessible avenue to seek relief.

4. OSRAA addresses 13 categories of online harms (see Annex). In the first phase of operationalisation, the OSC will focus on five of the most prevalent and severe harms:

a. Intimate image abuse;

b. Image-based child abuse;

c. Doxxing;

d. Online harassment (including online sexual harassment); and

The remaining categories will be progressively implemented.

5. Where online harm has occurred, the Commissioner can direct action to stop the harm. This includes requiring that harmful content be taken down or restricting the perpetrator’s online account. Such directions may be issued to:

a. Communicators – the person who posted the harmful content;

b. Administrators of relevant groups or pages which host the harmful content; and

c. Platforms which host the harmful content.

6. The framework also provides tools to help victims when perpetrators hide behind anonymous accounts. Where appropriate, the Commissioner can require platforms to provide identity information of end-users who have committed online harms, such as their name or contact details. A victim may apply to the Commissioner for disclosure of information, if available, but only for specified purposes such as bringing a claim in court against the communicator who posted the harmful content. Conditions will be imposed to ensure that the victim does not misuse any identity information disclosed to them.

7. Beyond providing relief, the OSC will also promote a safer online environment through public education, such as helping the public recognise what constitutes online harm, and providing guidance on reporting harmful content.

8. From 29 June 2026, specified statutory tort provisions under OSRAA will also take effect. These provisions provide a clear legal basis to hold those responsible for online harms accountable, and allow victims to seek remedies from the court.

9. These statutory torts clarify the duties of those who post content (Communicators), those who run groups or pages (Administrators) and Platforms.

a. Communicators: A person must not communicate, publish or engage in any conduct relating to any specified online harm in Singapore.

b. Administrators: An administrator must not create, set up or administer an online location in a manner that facilitates or permits the conduct of any online harm, intending or knowing that harm would occur. An administrator must also take reasonable measures to address specified online harms at their online location upon receiving notice of such harm.

c. Platforms: A platform must take reasonable measures to address specified online harms upon receiving notice of such harm. Certain platforms, such as those with greater reach, will be subject to additional requirements, for example, on the time taken to respond to such notices.

10. Where these duties have been breached, victims can apply to court for remedies, including damages for losses suffered and injunctions to stop the harm.

11. The statutory tort provisions will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, victims of the harms listed at paragraph 4 may hold Communicators, Administrators or Platforms to account for their statutory duties under the OSRAA.

Appointment of Commissioner-Designate

12. Mr Francis Ng (黄永吉), 50, will be appointed as Commissioner-Designate of Online Safety from 1 June 2026 to 28 June 2026, ahead of the OSC’s commencement of operations. He will assume the role of Commissioner on 29 June 2026.

13. Mr Ng has over 25 years’ expertise in public sector legal roles. He has held key positions such as Director (Legal Policy) in MinLaw and Deputy Chief Prosecutor in the Crime Division of the Attorney-General’s Chambers. Mr Ng is currently the Official Assignee and Public Trustee, Official Receiver, Licensing Officer, Registrar of Moneylenders, Registrar of Pawnbrokers and Chief Maintenance Enforcement Officer under MinLaw.

Further Information

14. More information on OSRAA can be found at this link.

MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION
MINISTRY OF LAW
14 MAY 2026

Annex: Categories of online harms to be addressed by the OSC and under the statutory torts

Last updated on 14 May 2026