Combating online sexual harms: Collaboration and open conversation crucial to empower victim-survivors and strengthen safeguards

Combating online sexual harms: Collaboration and open conversation crucial to empower victim-survivors and strengthen safeguards

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An intimate photo of you shared without your consent, or unsolicited sexual messages sent to you by a stranger. These are just two examples of online sexual harms, which 40 per cent of university students in Singapore say they have experienced, according to findings from the Campus Sexual Misconduct in the Digital Age (CASMIDA) project, an independent research study to understand how digital technologies shape sexual misconduct on campuses in Singapore.

With the rapid advancement of technology, sexual harms have gone digital, placing more and more people at risk. In 2023, AWARE Singapore reported a 90 per cent jump in cases of online sexual harms from 2021. Such offences include non-consensual image distribution, sextortion, deepfake pornography, and cyberflashing.

These alarming statistics were presented by panellists at the Online Sexual Harms in Singapore (OSHSG) Symposium, held on 23 February 2026. Organised by Assistant Professor Michelle Ho from the NUS Department of Communications and New Media, the symposium highlighted how such harms have not only become more prevalent, but also normalised.

"Online sexual harms have become so common that young people no longer bat an eye at them. They would say, if everyone around you is experiencing such harms, then why make a fuss?" said Asst Prof Ho, who led the CASMIDA project.

Drawing on findings from her study as well as her interactions with students, she noted that most expect to experience such harms in the online space, whether on social media or dating apps.

Technology complicates matters

Speaking at the opening of the Symposium, Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information, said that generative AI tools have made it easier for people with malicious intent to perpetrate online sexual harms at scale.

"Perpetrators no longer need technical expertise and sophisticated tools to commit online sexual harms. They can exploit widely available paid or free AI tools to generate materials for online sexual harms, even if they have nothing more than a simple text prompt and an innocent photograph," she said.

Citing Microsoft Designer and X's Grok, she noted that the issue is "not isolated to any single platform or provider", adding that the misuse of more tools is expected.

"We must consider what more we can do in today's day and age where AI tools can be weaponised to significantly lower the barrier to entry to commit online sexual harms," said Mdm Rahayu, who is also Minister of State for Health.

But dealing with such harms is challenging due to the complexities that come with their technological nature.

The anonymity of online platforms makes it difficult for authorities to identify perpetrators, said Ms Sugidha Nithianathan, Director of Advocacy and Research at AWARE, adding that platform response delays and technology outpacing regulation compound the problem.

"Such harms are rarely singular incidents. They often escalate and take place across more than one digital channel," she said.

This multifaceted nature makes it difficult to combat such harms. "Different platforms and laws have different thresholds of victimisation," said Ms Natalie Chia, Research Director at SG Her Empowerment (SHE), a non-profit organisation that strives to empower girls and women through community engagements and research. "The many competing institutional definitions clash with the personal experiences of victim-survivors, making it difficult for them to take action."

Asst Prof Ho added: "Many downplay their experience or dismiss it as not being considered as harms, sometimes even making excuses for perpetrators."

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Joint effort needed

In her speech, Mdm Rahayu also emphasised the need for stronger legislative, technological and community efforts to address and prevent these harms in Singapore's digital space.

Victim-survivors are often on the losing end when it comes to dealing with online sexual harms. Singapore aims to change that with the new Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) (OSRA) bill. Passed in November 2025, it provides victim-survivors with recourse to remove non-consensual sexual content quickly, pursue legal action, and under specific circumstances request access to perpetrator information.

"The OSRA bill takes a victim-centric approach from start to end, and will provide effective relief to victims of online sexual harms," said Mr Edward Wee, Director of Online Communications Office at the Infocomm Media Development Authority.

A key feature of the OSRA bill is the establishment of the Online Safety Commission in mid-2026, which has legal powers to order online platforms to remove harmful online content reported by victims. "It is necessary to take quick and effective action in these cases, because victims rightfully want harmful online content that affects them removed quickly," Mr Wee said.

However, dealing with the issue requires a whole-of-society effort. "Government's legislation, however essential, is not a silver bullet," said Mdm Rahayu.

"The community must come together to tap on our collective wisdom, resources, and determination, to develop and strengthen our non-regulatory measures. This complements the regulatory measures in a broader multi-pronged strategy to address risks in the online space."

Dr Priyanka Bhalla, Head of Safety Policy for APAC, agreed, saying that while online platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp ensure they have robust safety measures, the need for open communication between platforms and the government can help ensure quick action against offenders.

Partnerships with local organisations like SHE are also valuable. "Local partners help make us aware of Singapore-specific scenarios and more complex issues, such as multi-platform offences," Dr Bhalla explained.

Besides measures to mitigate the fallout of such harms, an informed society is key. "We must take a longer view - beyond legislation, society here must move towards a consensus of what is acceptable and what is not," Ms Chia said, adding that this will help school people on how to respond to online sexual harms.

Asst Prof Ho recommends rolling out education on consent early. "It should start much earlier than it presently does - not only in higher education, but with parents and their young children," said Asst Prof Ho, who covers the topic in her courses.

"What we want to build in Singapore is an education system that does not shy away from discussing complex issues such as these."

Destigmatising the topic, she added, will bolster the fight against online sexual harms.