One advocacy group in Singapore has reviewed three years of survey trends to produce a report proposing four mitigative reforms.
In Singapore, a report released on 29 May 2025 by a non-profit organization, has asserted that survivors of online harms in the country face persistent challenges in seeking help, highlighting what its authors describe as critical gaps in existing support systems.
The report, which contains compilations of the experiences of individuals affected by cyberbullying, image-based sexual abuse, cancel campaigns, impersonation, and sexual harassment, is being circulated by its authors as evidence of the need for urgent reforms and broader public education.
According to the summary provided by the authors, survivors interviewed over three years have described a range of obstacles and negative impacts:
- Deep psychological toll: Survivors reportedly experienced lasting mental health effects, including anxiety, panic attacks, and, in some cases, suicidal ideation.
- Limited and unclear support options: Many participants had expressed that they found it difficult to be heard by online platforms, or were intimidated by formal legal processes, leaving them uncertain of where to turn for help.
- Anonymity as a barrier to accountability: The report indicates that the abuse of anonymous or throwaway accounts had allowed perpetrators to evade identification, making it difficult for survivors to seek resolution.
- Blame and normalization: Survivors in the surveys conducted had often blamed themselves, or had been blamed by others. Some had described online harms as so common that such acts were not worth reporting.
In response to these reported issues, the report is proposing several reforms in Singapore:
- Restore agency to survivors: Develop clear, accessible support pathways that do not require immediate escalation to police or courts
- Require timely and transparent platform responses: Ensure online platforms respond quickly and transparently to reports of harm
- Close anonymity loopholes: Introduce stronger digital identity safeguards to help identify repeat or high-risk offenders
- Promote a whole-of-society response: Encourage coordinated action among law enforcement, social service professionals, educators, parents, and tech platforms, supported by sustained public education to shift norms around online behavior
The organization behind the report, SG Her Empowerment (SHE), describes itself as an independent non-profit focused on gender equality and online safety. In a prepared statement, its Chairperson, lawyer Stefanie Yuen Thio, has noted that “too many survivors are still left feeling traumatized and frustrated by a lack of agency” in the country.
