On August 17, Singapore's Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA) Office issued updated codes of practice for social media and messaging services, introducing new anti-scam requirements designed to strengthen platform accountability and make it harder for unknown contacts to reach users. Key measures require user consent before chats from unknown contacts can be initiated, risk warnings for messages and calls from unfamiliar accounts, and tools to block or filter communications from unknown numbers. Messaging platforms must comply with these requirements by January 31, 2027, while measures aimed at preventing the impersonation of Singapore government officials must be implemented by September 30, 2026. Updated social media requirements, also effective January 31, 2027, mandate advertiser identity verification against government-issued records, screening of scam-related advertisements, and restrictions on advertising financial products or services offered by unlicensed providers. A revised e-commerce code additionally introduces stronger consent-based authentication measures for logins from new devices.
Current penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to SGD 1 million, plus SGD 100,000 per day for continuing violations. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed increasing the maximum penalty to SGD 10 million and SGD 300,000 per day for ongoing offenses. Further details are expected during the second reading of the Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Bill in September.
Separately, in his National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Wong announced plans to strengthen oversight of technology platforms, particularly social media services. Proposed measures include more robust age-verification requirements and enhanced protections for minors, with the possibility of additional regulatory restrictions on platforms that fail to meet prescribed safety standards.
