Singapore’s Parliament has passed a new bill that will enable the government to order internet service providers, other entities and individuals to remove content or activity deemed criminal in nature, including illegal online gambling.
The Online Criminal Harms Act provides the government with five types of directions that can be issued in instances where there is “reasonable suspicion” that a specified offence has been committed, such as when a social media service is being used for unlicensed moneylending activities or the promotion of illegal gambling.
These include, among others, a “Disabling Direction” to prevent offending posts or web pages from being viewed in Singapore, an “Account Restriction Direction” preventing offending accounts from interacting with people in Singapore, and a “Stop Communication Direction” issued against individuals posting harmful text or images.
The bill also makes special provisions for scams and “malicious cyber activities” which Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information & Second Minister for Home Affairs, said tend to unfold with great speed and scale.
Outlining the reasons for introducing the bill during a presentation to Parliament, Teo said, “There is growing international consensus that new rules and levers are needed to combat criminal harms online. There is also growing recognition that proactive approaches are needed to prevent such harms, and that government efforts alone will not be enough.
“The UK, EU, Germany and Australia have or are introducing new laws in this regard. They have been useful references as we formulated our proposals.
“In general, we have taken a targeted approach, focussing on areas that are most problematic. We have also taken a pragmatic and collaborative approach. For example, we recognise and encourage initiatives by online services to improve online safety. But we also know that they tend to be designed for a global user base, and do not cater to the unique circumstances in specific locations.
“Where we have identified a need for additional measures to tackle the risks of criminal activities, it will be better to require them by law than to leave things to chance. The specific interventions should however be designed for ease of implementation, with strong emphasis on effective outcomes.”
The Online Criminal Harms Act is seen as providing wider scope than other legislation to act on suspicion of illegal activity, while covering all forms of online communication and more types of offences.
It also allows for directions to be issued before an offence is committed in instances where the government suspects preparations are being made for an offence to take place.
“There is no silver bullet to resolving the complexities of the online world,” Teo said “This Bill is calibrated to allow us to respond more effectively to online criminal harms, while enabling us to continue to enjoy the many benefits which the internet has brought us.”
