Darryl David on building an inclusive and safe digital society

Singapore has taken active steps to mitigate the impact of online harms but they are “broad strokes” which may not adequately address the complexities of the problem, said MP Darryl David in Parliament on Wednesday (Jan 10). He pointed out that online harms such as cyber stalking, body shaming, unwanted sexual attention, trolling and cancel campaigns are very different from overt online dangers such as terrorism propaganda, sexual exploitation or abuse and threats to racial and religious harmony. A more nuanced approach is therefore needed to ensure effective remedial action, he said. Mr David cited studies which suggest that one - the actual number of victims of online harms is likely higher than we think because many do not come forward; and two - there is a general lack of awareness among youths about such crimes, as well as a level of apathy on the possible repercussions, which is ironic as they themselves are more likely to be the targets of such behaviours. He suggested the following measures - create mandatory online learning modules for students on these issues, provide additional avenues for victims to seek assistance and take tougher action against perpetrators.