TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's digital regulatory authority slapped Meta Platforms, Inc. with a substantial NT$15 million (approximately US$516,000) fine on Monday (June 30) for what officials described as "systemic deficiencies" in Facebook's advertising service management system. The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA, 數發部), Taiwan's technology and digital communications regulator, took action after the Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部), the island's domestic affairs agency, referred 23 cases of illegal advertising practices. Officials have demanded Meta implement corrective measures within a 30-day timeframe to address the violations.
This penalty follows an earlier NT$1 million (about US$34,400) fine imposed on Meta by the MODA on May 22 for failing to adequately disclose advertising information as required by Taiwan's Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act (詐欺犯罪危害防制條例), a law designed to combat deceptive practices. The ministry's press release highlighted Facebook's lack of transparency regarding advertiser identities and financial backers as particularly troubling in the digital advertising ecosystem. Regulatory officials emphasized that these operational shortcomings represent serious violations of the fraud prevention legislation, potentially enabling misleading content to reach Taiwanese users without proper oversight.
The digital affairs ministry issued a stern warning that Meta would face escalating financial penalties under Article 40, Paragraph 2 of the Fraud Prevention Act if the company fails to address the identified issues by the specified deadline. Investigators reached their conclusions after analyzing Meta's formal response to initial inquiries and consulting with multiple government agencies familiar with digital advertising regulations. The investigation revealed that the deficiencies in Facebook's advertising system have had widespread implications for consumer protection and information transparency across Taiwan's digital marketplace. ◼