Yip Hon Weng on Online Criminal Harms Bill

The Online Criminal Harms Bill is a critical step in strengthening Singapore’s legal framework to combat scams and cybercrimes in the digital age, said MP Yip Hon Weng in Parliament on Wednesday (Jul 5). However, he said that for it to succeed, people must be willing and able to report malicious websites. He asked about designated reporting channels and which primary Government agency will be in charge. With time being of the essence in taking action against malicious sites, he asked about the timeline and processes involved in evaluating reported sites and initiating appropriate action. He also wanted to know if the virality and reach of websites and social media platforms will be taken into account when issuing Directions under the Bill. Mr Yip highlighted the fact that many malicious websites originate overseas, posing challenges in terms of identifying perpetrators and holding them responsible. He asked how Singapore authorities intend to work with their foreign counterparts on this.