Singapore Orders Meta to Combat Facebook Scams or Face S$1M Fine
Singapore authorities order Meta to implement anti-scam measures on Facebook or face S$1M fine, marking first enforcement under new Online Criminal Harms Act amid rising impersonation scams.
Singapore's cybersecurity authorities implement strict measures against social media scams
In a landmark enforcement action under Singapore's new Online Criminal Harms Act, authorities have ordered Meta to implement comprehensive anti-scam measures on Facebook or face fines up to SG$1 million (US$775,698).
Targeting Government Impersonation Scams
Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming announced the directive on Wednesday, citing Facebook as the primary platform used by scammers for government official impersonation schemes. This move follows a growing trend of sophisticated impersonation scams targeting Singaporeans.
Alarming Increase in Scam Cases
Police statistics reveal a concerning trend:
- Government official impersonation cases nearly tripled to 1,762 in H1 2025
- Financial losses increased 88% to SG$126.5 million
- More than one-third of e-commerce scams in 2024 occurred on Facebook
This enforcement action comes amid rising concerns about various fraud schemes targeting Singaporean consumers across different sectors.
Meta's Response and Existing Measures
A Meta spokesperson highlighted their current anti-scam initiatives:
- Specialized systems for detecting impersonating accounts
- Facial recognition technology implementation
- Enhanced user verification for select Singapore sellers
- In-product safety notices and anti-scam warnings
This regulatory action demonstrates Singapore's commitment to technological innovation while maintaining strict oversight of digital platforms to protect its citizens.
Wei-Ling Tan
Tech and economy specialist, covering innovation in Southeast Asia from Singapore for both English-language and regional media outlets.