PUBLISHED ONAugust 14, 2026 9:00 AMBYSean LerFrom Monday (Aug 17), courts will be able to deal with sexual offenders involving children more severely, as increased penalties kick in.
The Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2025 was passed by Parliament on Nov 4 last year.
Under the amendments, enhanced penalties currently applicable to obscene objects depicting minors below the age of 16 will be extended to cover minors below the age of 18.
The enhanced penalties will also apply to the electronic circulation of obscene objects to 10 or more persons, if the obscene object depicts a minor below the age of 18.
Those who set up or manage online locations such as WhatsApp and Telegram group chats and channels, with the intent of facilitating such large-scale electronic circulation will face enhanced penalties too.
In a statement on Friday (Aug 14), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said these amendments address the large-scale electronic circulation of such objects, facilitated by technological advancements that enable them to be transmitted more quickly and to large groups of people at minimal cost.
Meanwhile, for sexual grooming — where an offence does not currently apply if the offender and victim meet or intend to meet overseas to carry out the sexual act — will now be be an offence as long as the travel of either party commenced in Singapore.
The changes also cover the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on intimate images and child abuse materials.
In a statement when the proposed amendments were tabled on October 14 last year, MHA had said: "The increasing sophistication of Al models means that completely synthetic images can be generated. These are no less objectionable than images which are created by altering existing images or recordings.”
From Aug 17, the definition of intimate images will now include materials that are generated to depict a person without altering an original image or recording.
In addition, producing intimate images, including AI-generated materials, without consent, will be punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both.
If the material depicts a minor below 14 years of age, the offence is punishable with mandatory imprisonment of up to two years. The offender will also be liable to a fine or caning.
Other amendments that will come into effect include:
On Dec 30, 2025, caning for scams and scam-related offences, which were also proposed under the same Bill, came into effect.
Scammers, as well as members or recruiters of scam syndicates, now face mandatory caning of at least six strokes and up to a maximum of 24.
Scam mules who enable scammers by laundering scam proceeds, providing SIM cards and SingPass credentials may face up to 12 strokes of the cane.
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