Google and Apple ordered to stop fake government TXTs
Summary
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs has issued Implementation Directives to Google and Apple requiring them to stop message spoofing that imitates government identities and to reduce the prominence of profile names for unknown senders in messaging apps. The rules apply to Apple iMessage and Google Messages, bringing them into parity with SMS regulations and exposing the companies to steep fines for non-compliance: up to S$1 million plus S$100,000 per day thereafter.
The article also rounds up several regional stories: India aims to scale aircraft manufacturing; 19 people indicted over a South Korean datacentre fire; a massive Coupang customer-data leak affecting over 30 million people; Australia secures a minimum hourly pay deal for gig delivery workers; China reiterates its ban on unauthorised cryptocurrencies; and Australian launcher AtSPACE posts a striking rocket test-flight video.
Key Points
- Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs ordered Google and Apple to block sender-name spoofing that mimics “gov.sg” and government agency names.
- The Directives require profile names from unknown senders to be hidden or displayed less prominently than phone numbers to help users identify dubious messages.
- The measures apply to iMessage and Google Messages and align these platforms with existing SMS regulatory rules.
- Non-compliance could attract fines up to S$1 million plus S$100,000 per day, signalling strict enforcement intent.
- The roundup also covers large regional items: India planning bigger aircraft projects, indictments over a Korean datacentre fire, a 30m+ record e-commerce data leak in Korea, Australia agreeing minimum pay for gig couriers, China reaffirming its crypto ban, and an AtSPACE rocket test flight.
Context and Relevance
This directive sits at the intersection of platform responsibility, misinformation control and consumer protection. Governments across APAC are increasingly demanding that major tech platforms take proactive steps to prevent impersonation and reduce fraud risk in messaging. For Apple and Google it raises compliance, technical and legal considerations — and sets a precedent for other jurisdictions weighing how to regulate over-the-top messaging features.
The other items in the roundup show broader regional trends: tighter regulation of big tech and crypto, rising scrutiny after infrastructure failures and breaches, labour protections for gig workers, and continued interest in domestic aerospace capability.
Author style
Punchy: this isn’t a niche tweak — it’s a direct regulatory shove that forces global messaging platforms to change how messages look and are filtered. If you build apps, work in telecoms, or follow tech policy, the detail matters. Read the specifics to understand the compliance and UX changes coming down the line.
Why should I read this?
Quick and useful: if you use messaging apps, develop for them, or care about scams and government impersonation, this tells you what will change in Singapore and why Big Tech will have to act — fast. We’ve skimmed the roundup so you don’t have to hunt several sources.
Source
Source: https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/12/01/asia_tech_news_roundup/