Taiwan targets scam links with new platform warning requirements

台灣推出新的平台警告要求，打擊詐騙連結

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan is moving to make suspicious online links harder to ignore, requiring major internet platforms to introduce warning alerts before users are redirected to high-risk external sites.

The Ministry of Digital Affairs said the change is part of a broader expansion of anti-fraud measures, including closer coordination with platforms and faster removal of scam content, per CNA.

The planned alerts, set for a rollout later this year, focus on links embedded in posts or ads that lead users off-platform, a common entry point for fraud schemes. When a link is flagged as risky, users will see a clear warning before deciding whether to proceed.

Authorities are also pressing platforms to move beyond case-by-case moderation. Instead of removing individual scam ads only after reports, companies will be expected to identify recurring patterns, such as reused images in investment scams, and take down related content in batches to reduce exposure.

Different services face different risks. Messaging apps like Line are often used to funnel victims into chat groups or private contacts, where scammers attempt to extract personal details and private data, per the report. Social media platforms, by contrast, are more heavily affected by fraudulent advertising, prompting plans to tighten advertiser verification and improve automated detection.

The scale of the problem remains significant. Since late September 2024, Taiwan’s online fraud reporting system has logged nearly 688,000 suspected scam messages, with about 328,000 confirmed and referred for removal. Officials say fraudulent ads are currently taken down in an average of 3.5 hours.

To speed up enforcement, the government is shifting toward AI-assisted review. Human moderators will still make final decisions, but automated systems will help sort and prioritize cases. Authorities are also building a shared database to combine public reports with industry data, aiming to improve detection as scam tactics continue to develop.