Defamation and Online Harassment Laws in Singapore

Most of Singapore's defamation law comes from court decisions. The English common law that was part of Singapore law immediately before 12 November 1993 still applies, as far as it suits local circumstances. The Defamation Act 1957 adds statutory rules on matters such as broadcast statements, offers of amends, justification, fair comment, apologies and privileged reports.

Sources1Application of English Law Act 1993, s. 32Defamation Act 1957

Besides civil claims, the Penal Code makes defamation a criminal offence. Under section 500, anyone who defames another person can be jailed for up to 2 years, fined, or both. Sections 501 and 502 set the same maximum for printing or selling material known to be defamatory.

Source3Penal Code 1871, ss. 499-502

Singapore's Limitation Act 1959 has no section written specifically for defamation. Libel and slander are torts, so the general rule applies: an action founded on tort cannot be brought more than 6 years after the cause of action accrued. Other parts of the Act can extend or postpone that period in some situations, such as disability, fraud or mistake.

Source4Limitation Act 1959, s. 6(1)(a)

Some spoken statements can be sued on without proving financial loss. Under the Defamation Act, this applies to words likely to disparage someone in their office, profession, calling, trade or business, and to spoken words imputing unchastity or adultery to a woman or girl. Broadcasts are treated as publication in permanent form, so broadcast statements are handled like written ones.

Source2Defamation Act 1957, ss. 3, 4 and 5

A person who published words innocently can make a formal offer of amends, which means offering to publish a suitable correction and apology. If the offer is accepted and carried out, the claimant cannot sue that person over the publication; if it is refused, it can serve as a defence in some cases. Separately, a defendant who gave proper written notice can point to an apology made or offered before the case began, or at the first opportunity afterwards, to reduce damages.

Source2Defamation Act 1957, ss. 7 and 10

The main defences include justification (truth), fair comment (honest opinion) and privilege. The Act softens the first two: justification does not fail just because every charge is not proved true, and fair comment does not fail just because every fact is not proved. Fair, accurate and contemporaneous reports of public court proceedings in Singapore are absolutely privileged, and certain newspaper reports listed in the Act are privileged unless published with malice.

Source2Defamation Act 1957, ss. 8, 9, 11 and 12

Unlawful stalking is an offence under section 7 of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014, punishable by a fine of up to S$5,000, up to 12 months in prison, or both. The Act's examples of stalking behaviour include making or trying to make communications by any means and, since 29 June 2026, online activity in places the victim visits and making one's presence felt to the victim online.

Source5Protection from Harassment Act 2014, s. 7

The Protection from Harassment Act makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive, insulting, sexual or indecent words, behaviour or communications, by any means, with intent to cause harassment, alarm, distress or humiliation. That carries up to S$5,000 in fines, 6 months in prison, or both (section 3), while section 4 covers such conduct when it is likely to cause harm, with a fine of up to S$5,000. Victims can also sue for damages under section 11, and courts can order false statements of fact to be stopped or corrected under sections 15A and 15B.

Sources6Protection from Harassment Act 2014, ss. 3 and 47Protection from Harassment Act 2014, ss. 11, 15A and 15B

Publishing someone's identity information, or that of a related person, with intent to cause harassment, alarm, distress or humiliation is an offence under section 3(1)(c) of the Protection from Harassment Act, punishable by a fine of up to S$5,000, up to 6 months in prison, or both. Identity information is defined broadly and includes a person's name, home address, email, phone number, identity card and passport numbers, and photos or videos.

Sources8Protection from Harassment Act 2014, s. 39Protection from Harassment Act 2014, s. 2 (definition of identity information)

Under section 377BE of the Penal Code, it is an offence to distribute, or threaten to distribute, an intimate image or recording of someone without their consent when the offender knows or has reason to believe it will likely cause humiliation, alarm or distress. The penalty is up to 5 years in prison, a fine, caning, or a combination. The offence also covers images altered or generated to look like intimate images, such as deepfakes.

Source10Penal Code 1871, s. 377BE