Social Mixer 2024 Singapore
marketing interactive Content360 Singapore 2024 Content360 Singapore 2024
SG govt proposes new bill for online safety on social platforms

SG govt proposes new bill for online safety on social platforms

share on

 

The Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) has introduced the Online Safety Bill for first reading in parliament on 3 October 2022 to tackle harmful content online. The bill proposes to introduce new measures as part to the Broadcasting Act to regulate online communication services. These include social media services amongst other “electronic services” that allow users to access or communicate content via the Internet or deliver content to end-users.

According to MCI, the proposed measures under the bill are the result of extensive consultations with various stakeholders including parents, youths, community group representatives, academics and the industry, since June 2022. MCI’s public consultation from July to August 2022, in particular, showed that there was consensus that social media services needed to do more to protect young users from harmful online content.

Under the new bill, online communications services with significant reach will need to comply with the codes of practice and mitigate the risks of danger to Singapore users. In the event that specified categories of egregious content is accessed by Singapore users on these platforms, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will be able to issue directions to deal with such content. Egregious content includes content advocating suicide or self-harm, physical or sexual violence and terrorism; content depicting child sexual exploitation; content posing public health risk in Singapore; and content likely to cause racial and religious disharmony in Singapore. 

The move comes after Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo, in March, announced that the government will introduce measures to improve online safety for users in Singapore, combat harmful content on online services, and empower users with information and tools to protect themselves from content which is harmful or detrimental to their wellbeing.

While some online services have made efforts to address harmful content, the prevalence of these types of content remains a concern given the high level of digital penetration and pervasive usage of online services among Singapore users, including children. 

A survey in June 2022 by MCI found that respondents were most concerned with harms affecting children, with a high majority (97%) who felt that harmful online content can have at least moderate impact on children and youths. Sexual content, cyberbullying and violent content were the top three types of content that respondents felt the young needed to be protected from most. 

Related articles:
Facebook HK rolls out campaign to raise awareness of online safety
Google Hong Kong and Dustykid team up to promote online safety
Malaysia and Singapore ranked top 5 for best child online safety, says think tank

share on

Follow us on our Telegram channel for the latest updates in the marketing and advertising scene.
Follow

Free newsletter

Get the daily lowdown on Asia's top marketing stories.

We break down the big and messy topics of the day so you're updated on the most important developments in Asia's marketing development – for free.

subscribe now open in new window