Singapore orders Meta, TikTok to verify advertisers by Jan. 31, 2027
Why it matters: Breaches can bring fines of up to S$1 million as Singapore targets platforms tied to about 30% of 2025 scam cases.
Singapore issued a new code requiring Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to verify advertisers against government-issued records and block ads from financial firms not licensed in the country by Jan. 31, 2027. The rules, issued under the Online Criminal Harms Act, also require the platforms to stop ads suspected of being linked to scams and to quickly remove scam ads accessible in Singapore, including those flagged by users. Violations are a criminal offense that can carry fines of up to S$1 million. Police said the three services posed the highest scam risk in Singapore, with Facebook, Instagram and TikTok linked to about 30% of total scam cases in 2025; Facebook alone accounted for about 18%.