SingaporeMy photo was used without permission online. What can I do?
If your photo was used online without permission in Singapore, it may breach the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 if the photo identifies you and was collected or disclosed without your consent.
What the Law Says
The use of your photo without permission may be regulated under Singapore’s data protection law — the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA). This law applies when your photo qualifies as 'personal data', meaning it can identify you, either on its own or with other information.
Under the PDPA, organisations must generally obtain your consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal data — including photographs that identify you.
However, the PDPA does not apply to individuals acting in a personal or domestic capacity (e.g., a friend posting your photo on their private social media), nor does it cover photos taken in public where no reasonable expectation of privacy exists.
The PDPA also does not give individuals a direct right to sue for damages — enforcement is handled by the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), which may investigate complaints and issue directions to organisations.
Statutory TextAn organisation shall not collect, use or disclose personal data about an individual unless the individual has given his consent or the collection, use or disclosure is required or authorised by this Act or any other written law.
— Personal Data Protection Act 2012, s. 13 — Consent
What to Do
Check if the photo identifies you and was used by an organisation (e.g., business, website, app) — PDPA only applies to organisations, not individuals acting privately.
Contact the organisation directly and request removal of the photo and confirmation of deletion.
If unresolved, file a complaint with the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) at https://www.pdpc.gov.sg/complaints.
For urgent harm (e.g., defamation, harassment), consult a lawyer — other laws like the Protection from Harassment Act may apply.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.