Singapore orders Meta, TikTok to verify advertisers by Jan. 31, 2027
Why it matters: Facebook, Instagram and TikTok were tied to about 30% of scam cases in Singapore in 2025, and breaches can draw fines up to S$1 million.
Singapore will require Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to verify advertisers against government-issued records and block ads from unlicensed financial firms by Jan. 31, 2027, under a new social media code issued by the police. The rules also require the platforms to stop suspected scam ads from appearing and to quickly remove those accessible in Singapore, including user-reported ads. Authorities said the three services posed the highest scam risk, with Facebook alone linked to about 18% of total scam cases in 2025. Noncompliance will be a criminal offense under the Online Criminal Harms Act and can bring fines of up to S$1 million. Police said earlier online-service codes helped cut scam cases on designated services by about 37% in 2025 from 2024.