Singapore authorities have directed Meta to roll out anti-scam safeguards on Facebook or face a fine of up to S$1 million ($775,698). The order, issued under the Online Criminal Harms Act, marks the first such enforcement since the law took effect in February 2024.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming said the directive was necessary because Facebook remains the top platform exploited by scammers impersonating government officials. “More decisive action is required to curb these scams,” she stated in a speech on Wednesday.
Police data highlights the scale of the problem. In the first half of 2025, cases of government official impersonation scams nearly tripled to 1,762, compared with 589 during the same period in 2024. Financial losses from such scams reached S$126.5 million, an 88 percent increase from the S$67.2 million lost a year earlier.
Singaporeās Home Affairs Ministry reported in August that more than a third of all e-commerce scams in 2024 occurred on Facebook. It also identified Facebook Marketplace as the weakest among six e-commerce platforms assessed for anti-scam protections.
Meta responded on Wednesday, stressing its use of specialised systems, including facial recognition, to detect impersonation. A spokesperson said the company has invested significantly in review teams and user education. “We also rolled out advertiser verification and continue working with law enforcement and take legal action against the criminals behind these scams,” the spokesperson added.
Authorities acknowledged that Meta introduced measures in 2024, such as enhanced verification for certain sellers and safety notices within its platforms. However, officials said these steps followed earlier criticism over insufficient safeguards to protect users.
The enforcement order underscores Singaporeās tougher stance on digital platforms amid rising cybercrime. Experts note that similar regulatory approaches are emerging globally as governments seek to reduce online fraud risks while holding major tech companies accountable.
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