The Singapore government has issued a directive to Meta Platforms, ordering the company to implement measures to curb impersonation scams on Facebook by the end of this month. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced that Meta faces a fine of up to S$1 million if it fails to comply without a reasonable excuse. Additionally, the company will be liable for daily fines of up to S$100,000 if it does not meet the deadline.

The directive was issued in response to an increase in instances of scammers exploiting Facebook for impersonation scams, particularly between June 2024 and June this year. During this period, scammers used videos or images of government office holders in fake advertisements, accounts, profiles, and business pages. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Singapore police force have expressed concern over the prevalence of such scams in Singapore, despite Meta’s efforts to address the issue globally.

This is the first order issued under Singapore’s Online Criminal Harms Act, which came into force in February 2024. The act aims to regulate online content and protect users from harmful activities, including impersonation scams. Earlier this month, Singapore’s police ordered Meta to implement anti-scam measures against advertisements, accounts, profiles, and business pages impersonating key government office holders on Facebook.

The Singapore government’s move highlights the growing concern over online scams and the need for social media platforms to take responsibility for protecting their users. Meta has taken steps to address the risk of impersonation scams, but the Singapore authorities are seeking more robust measures to prevent such scams. The company is expected to introduce measures, including facial recognition, to help curb impersonation scams on Facebook.

The implementation of these measures is crucial in preventing further instances of impersonation scams and protecting Facebook users in Singapore. The government’s directive is a significant step towards regulating online content and holding social media platforms accountable for their role in preventing online harms. As the deadline approaches, Meta is expected to take concrete actions to address the concerns of the Singapore authorities and prevent potential fines.