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SINGAPORE - Victims of online harms can seek damages against platforms, administrators and communicators under proposed new legislation debated in Parliament on Nov 5.

These include compensation for loss of earnings, or an account of profits so wrong-doers cannot retain the benefits. These civil remedies are set out in a framework under the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill.

“At its heart, this Bill is about empowering victims,” said Minister for Law Edwin Tong.

“For some harms, the victim’s earning capacity or livelihoods may be affected, and they should be compensated for their loss of future earnings and the loss of earning capacity, as may be appropriate,” said Mr Tong, who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs.

“In other cases, such as where intimate images have been put online for sale, perpetrators may profit from the harm – then in those cases, an account of profits may be ordered so the wrong-doers cannot retain the benefits.”

The types of harms covered include intimate image abuse, image-based child abuse, and online impersonation, among others.

Recalcitrant administrators and communicators could also be slapped with enhanced damages under the framework.

Enhanced damages can be awarded to compensate a victim for additional harm caused by the refusal to stop the online harm, and to penalise the perpetrator, said Mr Tong.

He said that just as motor-safety laws first introduced in the 1960s eventually made cars safer and re-shaped how vehicles were designed, the new Bill can set the right tone for online behaviour for users and platforms.

“They will guide conduct not only through monetary damages, but thr...