Singapore OSRA
Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025
Creates a dedicated Online Safety Commission (OSC) with powers to order takedowns and disable access, establishes statutory torts providing victims of online harms with direct civil remedies against platforms and perpetrators.
Jurisdiction
Singapore
Enacted
Nov 5, 2025
Effective
Jun 29, 2026
Enforcement
Online Safety Commission (OSC), a new independent body; IMDA retains defined role.
Passed Parliament November 5, 2025. The Online Safety Commission began operations and specified statutory tort provisions came into effect on June 29, 2026 (Ministry of Law press release, May 14, 2026). First phase covers five of the Act's 13 online-harm categories: intimate image abuse, image-based child abuse, doxxing, online harassment (including online sexual harassment) and online stalking; remaining categories to be implemented progressively.
Singapore Statutes Online — OSRA Act 2025Why It Matters
First Asian jurisdiction to combine a dedicated online safety regulator with a statutory tort providing direct civil remedies for victims. The private right of action shifts enforcement posture beyond administrative takedown toward direct platform liability.
Recent Developments
Passed by Parliament November 5, 2025. As of April 2026, Act remains uncommenced pending Minister's Gazette notification; operational launch of Phase 1 expected in Q2 2026. Update 27 September 2026: The Ministry of Law announced on May 14, 2026 that the Online Safety Commission would commence operations and specified statutory tort provisions would take effect on June 29, 2026. In the first phase the Commissioner can direct communicators, group or page administrators and platforms to take down content or restrict accounts, and can require platforms to disclose identity information of end-users who committed online harms; platforms with greater reach face additional requirements such as notice-response times. Francis Ng was named Commissioner-Designate. The remaining eight harm categories will be phased in later.
At a Glance
Harms addressed
Who Must Comply
- Online platforms and services accessible in Singapore
- Individual perpetrators of covered online harms
Obligations fall on:
Safety Provisions
- Establishes independent Online Safety Commission (OSC) with takedown and access-disabling powers
- Statutory tort allowing victims of online harms to seek civil damages
- Phased coverage of 13 harm categories (Phase 1: 6 priority categories)
- Takedown timelines and platform compliance obligations
- Amends Protection from Harassment Act 2014 and related statutes
Compliance & Enforcement
Key Dates
Jun 29, 2026
Online Safety Commission begins operations; specified statutory tort provisions take effect for the first five harm categories (intimate image abuse, image-based child abuse, doxxing, online harassment, online stalking)
Penalties
Penalties pending regulatory determination
Private Right of Action
Individuals can sue directly without waiting for regulatory action.
View on map
Singapore
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
Singapore. (2025). Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025.
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Last updated September 27, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.