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Singapore: Government in talks with Australia on potential social media ban for children

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In brief

On 28 November 2024, the Australian Government passed a law banning social media for children under the age of 16. The Australian Government’s recent move has raised questions in Singapore on the assessment and effectiveness of such bans, and whether there is a possibility of introducing a similar ban in Singapore.

These questions were addressed by the Ministry for Digital Development and Information (MDDI) during the parliament sitting on 7 January 2025.

In more detail

The Minister of State of MDDI highlighted that Singapore shared the same objectives as Australia of protecting children and youths from the harms of social media access and that the MDDI was engaging its Australian counterparts and social media platforms to better understand their views.

The MDDI also highlighted its recent efforts to protect children on social media, including the introduction of the Code of Practice for Online Safety, which requires designated social media services to put measures in place to enhance the safety of Singapore users, particularly for children. These measures include having more restrictive account settings for children and providing tools for parents to manage their children’s safety.

The MDDI also emphasised that it has taken decisive steps to require the implementation of age assurance methods to minimise children’s access to harmful content. For instance, the upcoming Code of Practice for Online Safety for App Distribution Services will require designated app distribution services to put measures in place to establish the age or age range of a user with reasonable accuracy and ensure that children only access apps that are age-appropriate. You may refer to our client alert here for more details.

Key takeaways

Singapore has taken inspiration from Australia in its latest efforts to tackle online harms, including setting up an online safety centre to provide online harm victims with quicker assistance modelled after the Australia eSafety Commissioner. You may refer to our client alert here for more details.

A potential social media ban for children under 16 would also be part of a broader global trend to enhance protection for children on social media. For instance, countries such as France and some US states have enacted laws to restrict access for minors without parental permission.

If you wish to speak with us on any of the issues raised above, please reach out to us.

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Andy Leck is the head of the Intellectual Property and Technology (IPTech) Practice Group and a member of the Dispute Resolution Practice Group in Singapore. He is a core member of Baker McKenzie's regional IP practice and also leads the Myanmar IP Practice Group. Andy is recognised by reputable global industry and legal publications as a leader in his field. He was named on "The A-List: Singapore's Top 100 lawyers" by Asia Business Law Journal 2018. In addition, Chambers Asia Pacific notes that Andy is "a well-known IP practitioner who is highlighted for his record of handling major trade mark litigation, as well as commercial exploitation of IP rights in the media and technology sectors. He's been in the industry for a long time and has always been held in high regard. He is known to be very fair and is someone you would like to be in the trenches with you during negotiations." Furthermore, Asian Legal Business acknowledges Andy as a leading practitioner in his field and notes that he “always gives good, quick advice, [is] client-focused and has strong technical knowledge for his areas of practice.” Andy was appointed by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) as an IP Adjudicator to hear disputes at IPOS for a two-year term from April 2021. He has been an appointed member of the Singapore Copyright Tribunal since May 2010 and a mediator with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. He is also appointed as a Notary Public & Commissioner for Oaths in Singapore. He previously served on the International Trademark Association’s Board of Directors and was a member of the executive committee.

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Ren Jun Lim is a principal with Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow. He represents local and international clients in both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters. He also advises on a full range of healthcare, as well as consumer goods-related legal and regulatory issues. Ren Jun co-leads Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow's Healthcare as well as Consumer Goods & Retail industry groups. He sits on the Law Society of Singapore IP Committee and on the Executive Committee of the Association of Information Security Professionals. He is also a member of the Vaccines Working Group, Singapore Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, a member of the International Trademark Association, as well as a member of the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Association. Ren Jun is ranked in the Silver tier for Individuals: Enforcement and Litigation and Individuals: Prosecution and Strategy, and a recommended lawyer for Individuals: Transactions by WTR 1000, 2020. He is also listed in Asia IP's Best 50 IP Expert, 2020, recognised as a Rising Star by Managing IP: IP Stars, 2019 and one of Singapore's 70 most influential lawyers aged 40 and under by Singapore Business Review, 2016. Ren Jun was acknowledged by WTR 1000 as a "trademark connoisseur who boasts supplementary knowledge of regulatory issues in the consumer products industry." He was also commended by clients for being "very responsive to enquiries and with a keen eye for detail, he is extremely hands-on. His meticulous and in-depth approach to strategising is key to the excellent outcomes we enjoy."

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Ken Chia is a member of the Firm’s IP Tech, International Commercial & Trade and Competition Practice Groups. He is regularly ranked as a leading TMT and competition lawyer by top legal directories, including Chambers Asia Pacific and Legal 500 Asia Pacific. Ken is an IAPP Certified International Privacy Professional (FIP, CIPP(A), CIPT, CIPM) and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators.

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Sanil is a local principal in the Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Group in Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow. Sanil is qualified in both Singapore and Australia, and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/A) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Sanil is recognized as a Rising Star by both Legal 500 Asia Pacific in the Intellectual Property: Local Firms category as well as by IP Stars for his advisory work in the IP space. Sanil is also recommended by World Trademark Review 1000 for IP enforcement, litigation, prosecution and strategy.

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Daryl Seetoh is a local principal in the Intellectual Property & Technology (IPTech) practice group at Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow. He is a qualified lawyer in Singapore, and is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) as a Certified Information Privacy Professional for Asia (CIPP/Asia), an IAPP Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) and a Certified Information Privacy Professional for Europe (CIPP/E). Daryl has previously worked at Baker McKenzie’s San Francisco office and has also been seconded to financial institution and technology multinational clients.

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