Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has mandated that Meta, Line, TikTok, and Google publish transparency reports by the end of 2025 to combat online fraud.

This requirement applies to six major platforms: Facebook, Instagram, LINE, TikTok, Google, and YouTube.

Minister of Digital Affairs Huang Yen-nan said that these companies submitted fraud prevention plans in May 2025.

They will be guided to ensure compliance with Taiwan’s Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, which took effect in July 2024.

The law requires social media platforms to verify advertiser identities, develop fraud prevention strategies, and promptly remove fraudulent ads upon notification.

Regarding TikTok, a MODA official confirmed that the company has applied to appoint a legal representative in Taiwan.

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🔗 Source: Focus Taiwan

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Taiwan joins global shift toward platform accountability

Taiwan’s new requirements for transparency reports from Meta, LINE, TikTok, and Google reflect a broader international regulatory trend moving from platform protection to accountability.

This approach aligns with recent regulatory developments in other jurisdictions, as governments worldwide are increasingly requiring tech platforms to be more transparent about their operations and content moderation practices 1.

Taiwan’s Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, which mandates identity verification for advertisers and requires fraud prevention plans, shares principles with the European Union’s comprehensive tech regulations passed in March 2024 1.

The requirement for these companies to remove fraudulent content within specific timeframes demonstrates how governments globally are moving beyond self-regulation toward more formal oversight mechanisms for tech platforms.

This regulatory alignment is happening despite different countries having varying political systems and priorities, suggesting a growing international agreement on the need for greater platform transparency.

2️⃣ Taiwan prioritizes fraud prevention while other regulators focus elsewhere

While many global regulatory efforts target issues like disinformation, competition, or youth protection, Taiwan has made combating online fraud its primary regulatory focus for tech platforms.

The Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act specifically requires companies to verify advertiser identities and create fraud prevention plans, highlighting Taiwan’s targeted approach to addressing a specific harm prevalent in its digital ecosystem 1.

This contrasts with U.S. regulatory priorities, which have recently emphasized protecting minors online, as evidenced by the 2023 lawsuit against Meta involving 42 states over harm to young users 1.

Taiwan’s approach demonstrates how countries can tailor tech regulation to address their most pressing local concerns rather than adopting one-size-fits-all regulatory frameworks.

By focusing narrowly on fraud prevention rather than attempting comprehensive regulation, Taiwan may achieve more immediate practical outcomes in protecting its citizens from specific online harms.

3️⃣ TikTok faces heightened scrutiny globally due to China connections

Taiwan’s special review process for TikTok’s legal representative appointment reflects worldwide concerns about the platform’s ties to China.

This is similar to actions in other countries, such as the April 2024 U.S. mandate requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok within a year or face a ban, based on similar national security concerns 1.

The multi-ministry review process in Taiwan involving the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Mainland Affairs Council demonstrates how TikTok regulation often extends beyond typical tech policy bodies to include national security agencies.

The situation highlights the complex intersection of digital governance and international relations, where platforms can become focal points in broader diplomatic and security contexts.

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