Why this happens

Most video calling apps do not notify participants when the other party screen records. FaceTime, Zoom, Google Meet, and Snapchat all permit silent recording.

Screen recording of intimate calls is frequently used as a control tactic by partners or as a prelude to sextortion. The recording itself may have occurred months before the distribution.

Legal framework in Singapore

Penal Code (revised) section 377BB (voyeurism) and 377BC (distribution of voyeuristic image or recording), inserted by the Criminal Law Reform Act 2019. Section 377BB: up to 2 years imprisonment, fine, or caning. Section 377BC: up to 5 years imprisonment, fine, or caning.

Singapore's 2019 Criminal Law Reform Act introduced dedicated voyeurism and distribution offences carrying severe penalties including caning. IMDA can issue binding directions to platforms under the 2022 Online Safety Act amendments.

Evidence to preserve

Do not: Do not delete the call history or block the perpetrator's number before evidence is preserved. The call records establish the underlying recording event.

Five step removal process

  1. 1

    Preserve all evidence first

    The full call history showing the date, time, and other participant of every relevant call. Full page screenshot of every URL where the recording appears.

  2. 2

    File the Penal Code sections 377BB and 377BC criminal complaint

    Report to local police or the national cybercrime unit. SHE Singapore can assist.

  3. 3

    Submit an erasure request under Personal Data Protection Act 2012 plus Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act

    Each major platform has a designated data protection contact. The request must cite the legal basis and identify the URLs. The platform has 30 days to respond. PDPC accepts complaints for non compliance.

  4. 4

    Run a biometric scan to find every additional copy

    Content posted to one platform is rarely confined to one platform. ScanErase identifies every current hosting location in a single scan, including mirror copies and AI generated variants.

  5. 5

    File TAKE IT DOWN Act notices for covered platforms

    Use your scan report to file the federal 48 hour notice yourself, in parallel with your domestic rights. The two regimes are cumulative, not exclusive.

Statutory citations to include in your complaint

Frequently asked questions

Is screen recorded call a crime in Singapore?

Yes. Penal Code (revised) section 377BB (voyeurism) and 377BC (distribution of voyeuristic image or recording), inserted by the Criminal Law Reform Act 2019 criminalises this conduct. Section 377BB: up to 2 years imprisonment, fine, or caning. Section 377BC: up to 5 years imprisonment, fine, or caning.

What evidence should a Singapore victim of screen recorded call preserve?

The full call history showing the date, time, and other participant of every relevant call. Full page screenshot of every URL where the recording appears. Any messages from the other participant before, during, or after the call. The application used for the call, which determines what server side records may be available.

Does Personal Data Protection Act 2012 apply to this scenario?

Yes. Personal Data Protection Act 2012 plus Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act gives the victim a direct erasure right against any platform processing the imagery. PDPC enforces non compliance.

What support is available in Singapore for screen recorded call?

SHE Singapore provides direct support to victims and can assist with both the criminal complaint and the platform removal process. Contact at https://she.org.sg.

Can a Singapore victim also file a US TAKE IT DOWN Act notice?

Yes when the hosting platform is subject to US jurisdiction. The 48 hour federal removal obligation runs in parallel with rights under Penal Code sections 377BB and 377BC and Personal Data Protection Act 2012 plus Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act.

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