How Singapore, six other territories deal with online harms

SINGAPORE - In Singapore, online harms are addressed under a patchwork of laws. The Straits Times looks at these protections, and those available in Germany, Australia, the European Union, Britain, Ireland and France.

Passed in July 2023, the

Online Criminal Harms Act

covers online criminal harms ranging from illegal moneylending and unlawful gambling to drug-related offences. Under the Act, the authorities can compel individuals, entities, online service providers – including Facebook and WeChat – and app stores to remove or block access to content that it suspects is being used to commit crimes.