Pritam Singh on Online Criminal Harms Bill

The Workers’ Party (WP) supports the Online Criminal Harms Bill as a whole, because it is targeted at protecting members of the public from scams and offences that can cause financial and other harm. WP did not support previous bills concerning online content - namely, the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) and Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA) - as they carried the possibility of Government ministers depriving Singaporeans of hearing valid alternative viewpoints without adequate judicial checks. Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh made this point in Parliament on Wednesday (Jul 5). He said it is important to highlight to Singaporeans that each piece of legislation needs to be scrutinised on its own merits and the Government must be made to justify each statute it wants passed in the House, including those that restrict Singaporeans’ access to online content. On the Online Criminal Harms Bill, Mr Singh said WP agrees that it is necessary to protect Singaporeans from scams and other online crimes and for the authorities to be able to issue directions to online service providers and other relevant entities. In particular, he supported the proactive approach of developing codes of practice for designated online services. Mr Singh asked for details of how these codes will be developed, including how industry will be consulted, especially in view of the sanctions in place for non-compliance. He also wanted to know what other activities the Bill could conceivably address - for instance, whether cancel culture is a potential area that could fall under its scope.