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Issue October 2026

Singapore scam and safety rules in 2026

Singapore is pressing platforms hard on scam advertising. In September 2025 the police issued the first Implementation Directive under the Online Criminal Harms Act, ordering Meta to use enhanced facial recognition against Facebook ads and pages impersonating key government office holders. The Online Safety Commission and the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 started on 29 June 2026, giving people affected by online harms a route to timely redress. Legitimate advertisers should expect stricter identity checks and faster takedowns, especially for finance and investment ads.

Executive findings

  1. 1

    On 24 September 2025 the OCHA Competent Authority issued its first Implementation Directive, requiring Meta to target scam ads, accounts and pages impersonating key government office holders on Facebook.

    Documented: official source. Scope: Singapore; Ministry of Home Affairs, as of . [1]

  2. 2

    Meta was required to use enhanced facial recognition in Singapore and prioritise user reports from Singapore; non-compliance carries a fine of up to S$1 million plus up to S$100,000 a day.

    Documented: official source. Scope: Singapore; Ministry of Home Affairs, as of . [1]

  3. 3

    The Online Safety Commission and the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 started on 29 June 2026.

    Documented: official source. Scope: Singapore; Ministry of Digital Development and Information, as of . [2]

Method and limitations
Question
Which 2025 and 2026 measures in Singapore change how platforms review ads and accounts?
Written for
Advertisers and agencies running paid social and search in Singapore.
Decision at stake
How to prepare accounts and creative for stricter scam controls.
Sources
Ministry of Home Affairs releases on the OCHA directive, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information release on the Online Safety Commission and the Act itself.
Period
Official and legal sources as published and opened on 18 October 2026.
Markets
Singapore, national rules and the platform policies that apply there.
Definitions
  • OCHA: the Online Criminal Harms Act, which lets a Competent Authority direct online services to act against criminal activity.
Limitations
  • Platform review processes are not public in detail; the effect on legitimate ads is our assessment.
  • This is not legal or tax advice. Confirm obligations for your business with qualified counsel in the market.

The first directive under the Online Criminal Harms Act

Documented: official source

The Ministry of Home Affairs said scammers increasingly used Facebook between June 2024 and June 2025 for impersonation scams featuring key government office holders. The directive required Meta to put enhanced facial recognition measures in place in Singapore and to prioritise review of reports from Singapore users. MHA said it was considering similar requirements for other platforms.

The Online Safety Commission

Documented: official source

The Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 sets out to give people affected by online harmful activity timely redress through a Commissioner of Online Safety. The Commission began operating on 29 June 2026.

What changes for legitimate advertisers

FOCUSADS view

  • Verify business pages and keep payment and ownership details consistent.
  • Remove any creative that shows a public figure without written consent.
  • Expect longer review for financial, investment and crypto ads and plan launch dates with a buffer.
  • Keep a contact route for takedown appeals.

Where we see opportunity

FOCUSADS view

Stricter scam control raises trust in paid placements. Brands with verified identities and clear landing pages benefit, and search remains a dependable route for high-intent financial queries where the advertiser’s identity is visible.

How this connects to our method: How FOCUSADS screens channels by market

References

  1. Issuance of Implementation Directive to Meta under the Online Criminal Harms Act, Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore), accessed
  2. Online Safety Commission and Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025 to start on 29 June 2026, Ministry of Digital Development and Information (Singapore), accessed
  3. Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act 2025, Singapore Statutes Online, accessed

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