Singapore’s authorities have instructed Apple and Google to enhance controls on their messaging platforms in order to prevent impersonations of state agencies. This directive was issued following the identification of scams through iMessage and Google Messages where individuals posed as legitimate organizations, including SingPost.
This comes after earlier warnings to Meta Platforms, which faced potential penalties unless it improved identity verification measures on Facebook to mitigate the risk of fraudulent accounts impersonating high-ranking public officials.
New Directive Details
While government departments use a domestic SMS registry that restricts the ‘gov.sg’ label for only verified senders, this does not cover iMessage or Google Messages. Police highlighted that messages on these platforms can appear similar to standard SMS texts, making it difficult for users to discern between genuine and fraudulent communications.
Under the new directive, Apple and Google must prevent user accounts and group chats from using display names that mimic ‘gov.sg’ or other public bodies. Both companies are required to block or filter messages attempting such spoofing. The Ministry of Home Affairs stated that both companies have agreed to follow this directive and encouraged users to update their apps for the new protections.
