Meta: The Singapore government has issued a red alert to Facebook’s parent company Meta. The government’s message is clear – to prevent fake accounts and online scams, Meta will have to implement high-tech technology like face recognition by the end of this month, otherwise it will have to face heavy fines.
penalty blast
If Meta does not take timely action, a fine of around Rs 6.5 crore will be imposed on the company.
And an even bigger danger – the additional fine of $1 lakh (about Rs 77 lakh) will keep increasing every day.
This warning was issued by the Home Ministry of Singapore on Wednesday.
defending the meta
Meta says:
“Misuse of any celebrity’s photo or name on Facebook is against our policy. Such fake accounts and advertisements are immediately removed.”
The company said that they have special systems that detect fake accounts and work with the police to take action against scammers.
Increasing threat of online fraud
From June 2024 to June 2025, fake accounts and advertisements increased rapidly on Facebook.
Scammers are duping people by using photos and videos of government officials.
The government says that Meta has taken steps, but the problem of scams still remains serious.
Meta: Strictness under the new law
This order has been given under the Online Criminal Harms Act applicable from February 2024.
This is the first big case for Meta.
Singapore has made it clear: There is no leniency on social media companies now – otherwise they will have to face huge fines worth crores.
