VHK v VHL [2024] SGHCF 7

Outcome: Application (for the disclosure of IP address) Dismissed.

Facts

1          The plaintiff-mother has a long history of denying the defendant-father (her former husband) access to their child. The plaintiff has not been seen in Singapore since a warrant of arrest was issued against her in May 2023. The defendant applied and obtained an order of court on 21 July 2023, granting him sole custody, and care and control of the child. 

2          To locate the plaintiff and the child, the defendant applied to compel DBS Bank to disclose the plaintiff’s bank statements. By the same summons, the defendant prays for an order that the Supreme Court of Singapore discloses the plaintiff’s IP address as the court proceedings on 21 July 2023 was heard through live video (Zoom).

Court's Decision:

3          For the request for the disclosure of the plaintiff’s IP address, the only basis for ordering discovery against the Supreme Court is s 34(1) of the Government Proceedings Act, but that provision only applies where the Supreme Court is a party in the proceedings. The defendant’s application is made under a divorce proceeding. There is therefore no legal basis to compel the Supreme Court to disclose the plaintiff’s IP address.: at [9].

4          Furthermore, even if the defendant has the standing to apply for the information, the IP address is not information that ought to be released in aid of a private manhunt. It is common knowledge that the IP address is sensitive information that can, if used indiscriminately, lead to unwanted consequences. The IP address, if leaked or fell into the wrong hands, can become a hacker’s tool. The court has no resources to control how the IP address is used once it gets released. The defendant may have to call upon police assistance to obtain the IP address.: at [10].

The full text of the decision can be found here.

This summary is provided to assist the public to have a better understanding of the Court’s judgment. It is not intended to be a substitute for the reasons of the Court. All numbers in bold font and square brackets refer to the corresponding paragraph numbers in the Court’s judgment.