Meta facing a fine of NT$2.5 million due to delayed removal of misleading advertisements
Meta Fined NT$2.5 Million for Inadequate Response to False Ad Removal
Meta Platforms Inc. has been fined NT$2.5 million by the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) in Taiwan, following the company's non-compliance with the removal order issued by the Taipei City Government. The fine was announced by the Administration for Digital Industries on Thursday.
The penalty was imposed due to Meta's failure to remove false advertisements within 24 hours of being notified by the Taipei City Government. Out of the 1,763 infractions identified by the city government, 1,686 involved Meta's lack of transparency regarding advertiser information. The remaining 5 percent of false ads, which Meta failed to remove within the 24-hour deadline, were due to the company receiving hardcopy notifications from Taipei instead of digital ones.
Of the 1,763 infractions, 77 were for Meta's failure to remove false ads within the specified timeframe. The infractions were related to false advertisements on Facebook. The city government notified the company of a total of 1,763 infractions relating to Facebook between the two dates of June 18 and July 14.
In addition to the fine, Meta was ordered to rectify the issue in its protocols within 30 days. The Ministry of Digital Affairs plans to establish a direct communication channel between tech firms and local governments, with Meta cooperating in this initiative.
The new system aims to encourage social media companies to remove fake ads, thereby lowering the risks posed to Taiwanese users. The person responsible for coordinating the direct communication channel between technology companies and local governments is typically called the Chief Communication Officer or a similarly titled coordinator within organizations.
Meta has since provided the necessary data to the National Police Agency in relation to the cases of lack of transparency. The contravention occurred under the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act. This fine serves as a reminder for tech companies to prioritise transparency and compliance with local regulations to maintain trust and avoid penalties.
