Singapore will soon have a dedicated one-stop agency to help victims of online harms seek redress. Opening on 29 June, the Online Safety Commission will make Singapore one of only a handful of countries with an agency devoted to this purpose.

Our Joint Managing Partner Stefanie Yuen Thio, who is also Chairwoman of SG Her Empowerment (SHE), shared her perspective with The Straits Times on what the new regime means for victims and Singapore’s digital landscape.

While Stefanie welcomed the rollout, she struck a clear note of pragmatism. “The real test is whether a survivor who knocks on that door feels genuinely heard — and walks away with real relief, not just a reference number,” she said. “That will take more than statutory powers. It will take coordination, empathy, and a commitment to putting survivors first.”

Stefanie also noted the significance of the leadership appointment. Veteran civil servant Francis Ng, who brings more than 25 years of public sector legal experience, will serve as Commissioner. “He is deeply committed to ensuring digital safety and mental well-being, especially for vulnerable groups. I know he will be principled and fair in his leadership,” she said.

The SHE team has also met with the OSC to share its frontline experience in working with online harm survivors, with Stefanie noting that the team has been open and receptive.

The OSC will initially focus on online harassment, doxxing, online stalking, intimate image abuse and image-based child abuse, before progressively expanding to cover online impersonation, deepfake abuse, incitement of violence, and the publication of reputationally harmful statements — 13 categories in total.

With the Act also empowering victims to apply to court for civil damages and enabling the OSC to obtain perpetrators’ identity information from platforms, the new regime creates meaningful new legal pathways for those who have, until now, often struggled to secure timely relief.