A waste of precious judicial time and resources at best, and a potential miscarriage of justice at worst. These were the words of Justice S Mohan, who ordered two lawyers to each pay $5,000 in personal costs for citing fictitious authorities that were likely generated by AI in court. Singapore…
Category: Public Interest
Ban on Hormonal Treatments under Singapore’s New Youth Gender Dysphoria Guidelines
On 5 May 2026, Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a series of new clinical guidelines marking a significant shift in its approach to treating youths with gender dysphoria. The guidelines adopt a cautious stance regarding medical intervention, banning hormonal and surgical treatment for those under the age of 18…
New Laws to Protect Victims of Online Harms, Take Down Harmful Content
Singapore has taken a major step in strengthening its legal framework for online safety. On 5 November 2025, Parliament passed the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Bill, a landmark legislation targeting the rise of online harms. The Bill introduced new measures to strengthen online safety and protect Singaporeans from online…
Stricter Anti-Bullying Measures in Singapore Schools from 2027
The Ministry of Education (MOE) recently announced a slew of measures that will be introduced from 2027 to tackle bullying in Singapore, amid rising concern over bullying incidents in Singapore schools. One of these measures is the introduction of a nationwide framework to standardise disciplinary measures across all schools. In…
New Law to Regulate Vets, Enhance Professional Standards in Singapore
Singapore’s veterinary sector has grown considerably over the past two decades, driven by a rise in pet ownership and increasing expectations from pet owners that their animals receive professional medical care. In fact, one in three households in Singapore owns a pet. Currently, the existing regulatory framework is administered by…
Singapore Passes Tougher Anti-Vaping Laws: What You Need to Know
Singapore has passed tougher laws under the new Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act, introducing significantly tougher penalties for vaping-related offences, as the government steps up efforts to curb the growing use of vapes, especially among young people. The legislative changes will increase fines and jail terms for those who use,…
Singapore Expands Public Sector Data Sharing Law
In recent years, public agencies have increasingly partnered with trusted organisations outside of the public sector to reach Singaporeans effectively – these organisations include social service agencies, community partners and self-help groups such as SG Enable, the Chinese Development Assistance Council, Mendaki, Sinda, and the Eurasian Association. Previously, these external…
New Rules on Psychiatric Expert Evidence in Criminal Cases
Psychiatric expert evidence has become increasingly important in Singapore’s criminal justice system. It helps the courts determine whether an accused person’s mental state affected their criminal responsibility, intent, or even ability to stand trial. With growing awareness of mental health issues and their intersection with the law, psychiatric evidence has…
New Measures to Tackle Drug-Laced Vapes in Singapore
On 1 September 2025, Singapore introduced sweeping changes to its legal framework on vaping and vaping-related offences. While vaping has been illegal in Singapore since 2018, the new changes reflect the government’s decision to treat vaping, and especially drug-laced vaping, not simply as a public-health or tobacco matter, but as…
New Health Information Bill Creates a National Database of Medical Records
In a landmark move towards a digitally integrated healthcare system, Singapore’s Ministry of Health is introducing the Health Information Bill, set to be tabled in Parliament later this year. This legislation aims to mandate the contribution of key patient health data into a centralised digital system, and introduces robust legal,…
