Being harassed, impersonated or exposed online can feel overwhelming, especially when a platform is slow to act. Singapore set up the Online Safety Commission to give victims a faster route to relief. If you are looking up the Online Safety Commission Singapore process, this guide explains what kinds of harm it deals with, how a report generally works, and what kind of help you can realistically expect.
This is general information, not legal advice. The law is being rolled out in phases, and details such as which harms are covered at each stage, forms and timelines are set by the Commission. Always confirm the current position on the Commission’s official website or gov.sg before you act.
What the Online Safety Commission Is
The Commission was created under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act, passed by Parliament in 2025. Its job is to help people who suffer specific online harms get them dealt with quickly, without having to go to court first.
Before this, victims mostly relied on reporting to the platform, making a police report for criminal conduct, or bringing a civil claim, which can be slow and costly. The Commission sits alongside those options rather than replacing them. It can issue directions to platforms, to the people who posted harmful content, and to others involved, requiring them to take action such as removing content.
It is different from the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA), which deals with false statements of fact affecting the public interest. The Commission focuses on harm to individuals.
Which Online Harms Qualify
The Act lists specific categories of harm. Based on what has been announced, these include:
- Online harassment: abusive, threatening or insulting communications that cause distress.
- Doxxing: publishing someone’s personal information, such as their address or phone number, to harass or cause harm.
- Online stalking: repeated online conduct that causes fear or alarm.
- Intimate image abuse: sharing or threatening to share intimate images or recordings without consent.
- Image-based child abuse: material that sexually exploits or abuses children.
- Misuse of a person’s likeness, including realistic fake images, video or audio (often called deepfakes) that misrepresent someone in a harmful way.
- Online impersonation: pretending to be someone in a way that harms them.
- False statements or content that damage a person’s reputation and certain other harms such as incitement of enmity or violence.
Not every category may be available from day one, as the Commission is phasing them in. Check its website for which harms it is currently accepting reports for.
What usually does not qualify: content you simply disagree with, ordinary criticism, a bad review that is honest, or a dispute that is really about a contract or purchase. For scams and fraud, report to the police and your bank instead.
How to Make a Report, Step by Step
The exact steps depend on the Commission’s current process, but the general flow looks like this:
- Make sure you are safe. If you are in immediate danger or someone is threatening violence, call the police on 999 first.
- Preserve evidence. Take screenshots that show the content, the account name or handle, the URL and the date and time. Save links. Do this before content disappears or is edited.
- Report to the platform, where required. For many harms, you are generally expected to report to the platform first and give it a chance to act. For the most serious harms, such as intimate image abuse, image-based child abuse and doxxing, the Commission has indicated victims can go to it directly. Check the current rule for your type of harm.
- Submit a report to the Commission. Use the official online channel on the Commission’s website. You will typically need your identity details, a description of what happened, the evidence and, where relevant, proof that you reported to the platform.
- Respond to follow-up questions. The Commission may ask for more information before deciding.
- Keep records. Note your report reference and any correspondence.
Be wary of anyone claiming to be from the Commission who asks for payment or passwords. Use only links you find on official government websites.
What Relief You Can Get
The Commission’s powers are aimed at stopping the harm quickly rather than awarding money. Depending on the case, it may direct:
- Removal or disabling of access to the harmful content.
- Restriction of an account that is being used to cause harm.
- A right of reply, letting you respond alongside the content.
- Labelling of content.
- Action against identical or similar copies of the content.
Platforms and individuals who do not comply can face consequences under the Act. The Act also creates statutory torts, meaning victims may be able to sue in court for certain online harms and seek remedies such as compensation. That route involves the courts, so speak to a lawyer, a legal clinic or the Community Justice Centre if you are considering it.
Commission, Platform, Police or Court: Which Route Fits
Different routes do different jobs, and you can sometimes use more than one.
| Route | Best for | What it can do | Things to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report to the platform | Most online harms as a first step | Remove content or suspend accounts under the platform’s own rules | Speed and outcomes vary by platform |
| Online Safety Commission | Listed harms where the platform has not acted, or serious harms that can go direct | Issue directions to remove content, restrict accounts, grant right of reply | Phased roll-out; check which harms are covered |
| Police report | Threats, stalking, intimate image offences, child abuse material, scams | Criminal investigation and prosecution | Call 999 in an emergency; otherwise report online or at a police station |
| Civil claim in court | Seeking compensation or court orders | Damages and injunctions under the statutory torts or other laws | Takes longer; legal advice recommended |
Supporting Children and Teens Who Are Targeted
Young people are often targets of harassment, image abuse and impersonation. If your child is affected:
- Stay calm and listen without blaming them, even if they shared something they regret.
- Help them preserve evidence, then report the content together.
- Do not forward intimate images of a minor, even as evidence. Describe them and let the police or Commission advise on what to provide.
- Involve the school counsellor and, where your child is distressed, a doctor or mental health professional.
Our guides to keeping kids safe online and what to do if your teen is self-harming offer more support.
Protecting Yourself Going Forward
Reporting deals with harm after it happens. A few habits make it less likely:
- Lock down privacy settings and limit who can see your address, workplace and family details.
- Be careful with location tags and real-time posts.
- Use strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication to prevent impersonation through hijacked accounts.
- Think carefully before sharing intimate images, even with someone you trust.
- Meet online contacts in public places and tell someone your plans. See safe online dating in Singapore and how to keep your family safe online.
Where to Get Help
If you are distressed, you do not have to handle this alone. Talk to someone you trust, and consider reaching out to a counselling service or helpline listed on gov.sg or HealthHub. For legal questions, community legal clinics can give initial guidance.
The Online Safety Commission is still a relatively new body, and its processes may be refined over time. Bookmark its official website and check there for the latest harms covered, reporting steps and timelines.