TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan has intensified its battle against digital scammers through new regulatory measures implemented by the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA, 數發部), Taiwan's technology governance agency. Digital Minister Yennun Huang (黃彥男) announced Tuesday (June 3) that major social media platforms including Meta, LINE (a dominant messaging app in East Asia), and TikTok now operate under a stringent legal framework designed to curb online fraud. The regulations represent Taiwan's most aggressive effort yet to hold technology companies accountable for fraudulent activities occurring on their platforms.
The cornerstone of this regulatory approach is the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act (詐欺犯罪危害防制條例), which took effect in July 2024 and imposes substantial new obligations on technology giants. The legislation requires major platforms including Google, YouTube, LINE, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to implement rigorous advertiser verification systems and develop comprehensive anti-fraud strategies. Digital Minister Yennun Huang (黃彥男) emphasized during a press briefing that these companies must now respond promptly to law enforcement takedown requests for fraudulent content, with specific compliance deadlines established under the new framework.
Ministry officials revealed that the targeted tech companies had successfully developed their required anti-fraud protocols by May 2025, meeting a key regulatory milestone. MODA intends to publish a comprehensive transparency report in December that will detail each platform's compliance levels and effectiveness in combating digital fraud. One notable exception in the implementation process involves TikTok, whose efforts to designate a legal representative in Taiwan remain incomplete. The application has entered a complex inter-ministerial review process requiring coordination between the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部) and the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會), which oversees Taiwan's relations with China.
In a related development, MODA has unveiled its seventh national cybersecurity initiative, which allocates NT$1.4 billion (approximately US$46.7 million) over a three-year period to strengthen protection systems for Taiwan's critical infrastructure against digital threats. Ministry officials emphasized their commitment to transparency, stating they will carefully weigh public input before revealing specific details about these protected infrastructures to ensure citizens comprehend the scope and importance of Taiwan's digital security architecture. ◼