Singapore Threatens Meta with Fines Over Facebook Impersonation Scams

tech360.tv
Sep 26
2 min read

The Singapore government has issued a directive requiring Meta Platforms to implement measures, including facial recognition, to curb impersonation scams on Facebook by the end of the month. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the directive on Thursday, stating it was issued to Meta on Wednesday.

Credit: META

Meta Platforms faces a fine of up to SGD 1 million (USD 776,639) if it fails to comply "without reasonable excuse," the Ministry of Home Affairs stated. Daily fines of up to SGD 100,000 will be imposed for each day of non-compliance after the deadline.

A Meta spokesperson stated on Wednesday that impersonation and deceptive advertisements using public figures are against company policies. Such content is removed upon detection, the spokesperson added.

Person in hoodie sits at computer with code on screens, suggesting hacking. Dark room setting with blue and black tones.

The spokesperson also noted that Meta has specialised systems to identify impersonating accounts and celebrity-bait advertisements. The organisation is collaborating with law enforcement on legal action against scam perpetrators.

Earlier this month, Singapore’s police had separately directed Meta to implement anti-scam measures targeting advertisements, accounts, profiles, and business pages that impersonate key government office holders on Facebook. This earlier order did not include a deadline.

The Ministry of Home Affairs reported an increase in Facebook impersonation scams between June 2024 and June of the current year. Scammers used videos and images of government office holders in fake advertisements, accounts, profiles, and business pages.

Despite Meta’s global efforts to address impersonation scam risks, including those in Singapore, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Singapore Police Force expressed continued concern over the prevalence of such scams within the country.

This directive marks the first order issued under Singapore's new Online Criminal Harms Act, which became effective in Feb. 2024.

Singapore has issued a directive to Meta Platforms to implement measures against Facebook impersonation scams.
Meta faces potential fines of up to SGD 1 million (USD 776,639) and daily penalties for non-compliance after the month's end deadline.
The required measures include facial recognition to combat scams using fake accounts and advertisements.

Source: REUTERS