TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau revealed Thursday the Ministry of Digital Affairs has not penalized Meta, despite Facebook having removed more than 38,000 scam ads in the first quarter of 2025.
During a legislative session, KMT Legislator Hung Mong-kai (洪孟楷) asked whether MODA had enforced penalties against Meta over scam ads under the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, per Up Media. MODA Deputy Minister Lin Yi-jing (林宜敬) replied the ministry had yet to receive a report from the Interior Ministry regarding the issue.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau criticized MODA’s inaction, noting that while police constantly request takedowns of fraudulent content, Meta only removes posts after being notified. Law enforcement described an "endless loop" of monitoring, reporting, and rediscovering the same scam ads, without preventive or punitive action from MODA.
Executive secretary of the Cabinet's anti-fraud unit Huang Kuo-shih (黃國師) said Meta claims to use AI to combat scam ads, but their recurring appearance suggests otherwise, per PNN.
CIB said it formally requested MODA on April 25 to fine Meta for failing to disclose those sponsoring 15 scam ads. It also asked Meta to suspend accounts that repeatedly post fraudulent content.
A police source familiar with the matter said authorities had already called for legal tools and penalties against platforms in 2016, when fraudulent e-commerce ads became widespread, per ETtoday. The source noted that nearly a decade has passed without platforms like Meta’s Facebook paying fines for hosting such content.
Independent Taipei City Councilor Tseng Hsien-ying (曾獻瑩) urged Taipei City Government to sue Meta on behalf of citizens, per UDN. He argued that under the law, Meta must remove fraudulent ads.
Tseng called on Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) to take the lead rather than rely on central government action. Taipei Legal Affairs Department Commissioner Lien Tang-kai (連堂凱) confirmed that Chiang had convened departments to discuss the matter.
However, Lien said the city has no legal standing to sue Meta because the victims are private citizens. He added that any case would require proving Meta knew or should have known that the content was fraudulent.
Chiang said he has instructed the city’s legal department to explore further legal avenues and hoped for a cooperative solution with Meta.
